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German Leader urges for discussion of mandatory army service resumption

(MENAFN) Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has called for a national discussion on the return of mandatory military service, pointing to growing security challenges in Europe as a reason to bolster the country’s defense readiness.

Although conscription was suspended in 2011, the legal framework allowing for a draft still exists and could be reinstated by a parliamentary vote. However, implementing universal conscription that includes women would require amending the constitution.

In a televised interview on Sunday, Steinmeier emphasized the importance of preparing for a scenario where voluntary enlistment may not meet the army’s personnel demands.

“I am an advocate of conscription because I believe that with the changing security situation in Europe, with the fact that a war is taking place, and with the conclusions we have drawn from it to better protect ourselves, the personnel equipment of the Bundeswehr also needs to be adapted,” he said.

He voiced support for a proposal by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius to increase troop numbers and establish a standby conscription framework. The defense plan outlines a goal of bringing in about 5,000 volunteer recruits annually, with that figure expected to rise to 30,000 by 2029.

A draft law under preparation, expected to go before the cabinet in August and potentially take effect in early 2026, would include mechanisms to reinstate conscription if volunteer levels fall short of military staffing needs.

“We need this debate now, preferably with a positive outcome, so that if there are not enough volunteers, we will probably return to a different form of conscription than the one we have already abolished,” Steinmeier said.

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