Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) expressed a degree of optimism regarding the initial return rate of questionnaires from young men and women participating in the new military service. Speaking to the “Rheinische Post” (Saturday edition), Pistorius stated, “At this stage, I am satisfied, but we must ensure that we are not speaking from a momentary snapshot, but rather that we can demonstrate a reliable trend based on solid figures”.
He explained that the questionnaires were distributed starting in January, and each recipient has four weeks to complete them. This suggests the ministry still requires time to prepare robust information for the public. According to the Minister, the data will be presented sometime during the summer.
In related news, Pistorius acknowledged an error involving the draft regulation for approving extended trips abroad within the new military service. The SPD politician described it as a “craftsman’s error” emphasizing that the rule “should never have been in the law”. He attributed the oversight to a lapse that went unnoticed-not by him or his office, nor by the Cabinet, the parliament, or the media, until later.
While admitting that the mistake caused unnecessary confusion, Pistorius confirmed that the government quickly sought clarity by issuing an ordinance and general notice to rectify the issue.