German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius’s recent announcement that the German military needs an additional 60,000 soldiers has sparked a debate on the issue of conscription.
In a recent interview with the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung, SPD Fraktionschef Matthias Miersch categorically rejected the idea of reintroducing conscription, stating that the coalition agreement is clear in its commitment to a voluntary military service. Miersch emphasized that any discussion on the reintroduction of conscription can only take place in the next legislative period, not in the current one.
Miersch also expressed skepticism about the feasibility of reaching the goal of 60,000 additional soldiers, even without the need for conscription. He pointed out that the current training capacities are insufficient and the main question is how to make military service attractive to potential recruits. The SPD Fraktionschef attributed the lack of success in the past to the inadequate equipment and resources and urged Defense Minister Pistorius to invest in modernizing the military to make it more appealing to young people.
As the debate on the future of the German military continues, Miersch and the SPD will be closely watching the concept of the defense minister’s plan for a voluntary increase in the military’s personnel.