A German politician has not ruled out the reintroduction of mandatory military service, but has emphasized the importance of a clear purpose behind such a move. Ralf Stegner, a member of the Social Democratic Party and a foreign and security policy expert, stated in an interview that the decision to reintroduce conscription should not be taken lightly and must be carefully considered.
Stegner expressed concerns that the reintroduction of conscription should not be driven by a desire to prepare for a large land war in Europe, but rather by a genuine need for a larger military presence. He also suggested that the need for additional troops should be reevaluated in light of NATO’s guidelines and capabilities.
The politician also emphasized the importance of a democratic decision-making process, stating that the Bundestag, Germany’s parliament, must have the final say in such a matter. He rejected the idea of an automatic reintroduction of conscription, should the planned voluntary military service not attract enough recruits and instead advocated for a more nuanced approach.
Recent reports suggest that the German Ministry of Defence, led by SPD politician Boris Pistorius, is currently working on a draft bill that would introduce a two-stage system, with a voluntary military service followed by a mandatory one, should the need arise. Stegner welcomed this approach, stating that it could provide a more gradual and manageable transition to a reintroduction of conscription.
In contrast, Jens Spahn, the leader of the Christian Democratic Union’s parliamentary group, has called for the government to start preparing for the reintroduction of conscription immediately. According to Spahn, a structure must be established within the German military that would enable a swift return to conscription, a process that would not be possible overnight, but must be started in the near future.