The German Defense Minister, Boris Pistorius, is paving the way for the reintroduction of conscription. A new draft bill, expected to be submitted to the cabinet in the summer, outlines a two-stage model, according to reports by the Handelsblatt.
Initially, the plan relies on voluntary enlistment, with the goal of achieving the desired troop strength. If this target is not met, the Bundestag will be called upon to consider the reintroduction of conscription. The specific details of the conscription element, however, may still be subject to change during internal coalition discussions.
The plan does not specify a particular year for the reintroduction of conscription and there will be no automatic implementation. Instead, the principle of voluntary enlistment will be tied to the personnel requirements of the Bundeswehr. Defense experts believe that it is unlikely that enough recruits will volunteer, potentially paving the way for a Bundestag vote on conscription.
Some members of the SPD faction may object to the plan, as the party has been divided on the issue of conscription. “We agreed in the coalition contract that the new military service would initially be based on voluntary enlistment” said Siemtje Möller, the deputy SPD faction leader, in an interview with the Handelsblatt. “Only if the desired numbers are not achieved will the option of compulsory elements remain on the table.”
The CDU is urging for haste, with Norbert Röttgen, a CDU foreign policy expert, stating, “We don’t have much time.” He added that, according to the German government’s assessment, Russian President Vladimir Putin will be militarily capable of attacking NATO in four to five years.