2025-10-15 11:33
publication
2025-10-15 11:33
The issue of the military service model has caused tensions in Germany's ruling coalition of Christian Democrats and Social Democrats, dpa reported on Wednesday. The reason is the opposition of the social democratic SPD to the procedure of drawing lots of conscripts in the event of a shortage of volunteers. Despite this, the project is scheduled to be debated by the Bundestag on Thursday.
According to media reports, tensions in the coalition escalated on Tuesday evening. The Christian Democrats from the CDU/CSU and the Social Democrats canceled the announced press conference devoted to the new model of military service at the last minute. As reported by dpa, the initial agreement – which assumed recruitment by lot in the absence of volunteers – did not receive the support of the SPD faction in the Bundestag or the Minister of Defense, Social Democrat Boris Pistorius, who was said to have incited his party colleagues.
The deputy head of the Christian Democrat faction in the Bundestag, Norbert Roettgen, accused Pistorius of “destructive” behavior. “I don't understand how the Minister of Defense can torpedo the legislative process in such a way and behave so destructively,” he said in an interview with the RND editorial group website.
Pistorius denied the allegations in an interview with the Tagesspiegel daily. He emphasized that his reservations concern the fact that “two basic points of the draft law were changed before it was officially submitted to the Bundestag.”
According to the “Die Welt” daily, Pistorius demanded that all young men be sent for preventive medical examinations. This would ensure that, if necessary, the authorities would have a full picture of the physical capacity of persons subject to compulsory military service.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Pistorius noted that it was not the first time he had raised doubts. “On Tuesday, I said to the parliamentary group: 'All this can be done, but as defense minister I want to make it clear that I have serious concerns about some issues,'” he said. “Then the press conference was canceled. I think this is all much less dramatic than it is currently portrayed,” he added.
Despite the dispute, both parties announced that the Bundestag would consider the project on Thursday.
The new model of military service is modeled on Danish solutions: volunteers are to be recruited first, and if their number is insufficient, young men selected by lot. Those selected are then required to undergo medical examination and serve at least six months.
The Bundeswehr is struggling with serious staff shortages. The government plans to increase the number of armed forces from the current 180,000. up to 260 thousand soldiers to meet NATO requirements and strengthen the country's defense capabilities. Ultimately, approximately 200,000 will be needed. reservists.
The dispute over the new model of military service is another source of tension in the German coalition after the conflict over the election of judges to the Constitutional Tribunal. In July, some CDU/CSU deputies opposed the candidate proposed by the SPD, considering her views too liberal – despite a previous agreement on this matter.
From Berlin Iwona Weidmann (PAP)
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