The prospect of introducing a mandatory national service year, recently proposed by CDU leader Friedrich Merz, appears unlikely to gain traction, according to the Social Democratic Party (SPD).
Dirk Wiese, the SPD’s parliamentary group secretary, emphasized the practical considerations involved in such a significant policy shift. Speaking to the “Rheinische Post” Wiese stated that implementing a compulsory service year would require a two-thirds majority vote in the German Bundestag. He indicated that securing this majority is currently not foreseeable, prompting a focus on more immediately achievable measures to enhance security.
The SPD is instead exploring options like a voluntary defense service program, potentially coupled with substantial financial incentives, amounting to up to €2,300 net per month.
Earlier today, Jan van Aken, the leader of the Left party, dismissed the idea of a constitutional amendment to mandate such services. Achieving the necessary two-thirds majority in parliament would necessitate support beyond the governing Union and SPD blocs. This raises the complex political question of any potential reliance on the Alternative for Germany (AfD) to secure such a margin.