German government approved law to make military service mandatory in case of need

In Germany, the government led by Friedrich Merz wants to make military service mandatory – but only in the event of the need for defense of the country or the lack of volunteers. The proposal also needs the approval of the Federal Parliament.

The German government approved, this Wednesday, a bill to institute the Voluntary Military Service.

The bill was approved during a meeting held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense, according to government sources cited by the German news agency DPA.

This proposal includes the option of the service to become mandatory in case of need.

At the same time, the return of compulsory peaceful military service, a claim of several conservative politicians, has not been approved.

The text, presented by the German Defense Minister, Boris Pistoriuscontemplates the possibility of the military service becomes mandatory in case of need for the country’s defense or the lack of volunteerswith the condition that the measure is supported by the German Parliament (Bundestag).

According to information collected by DPA, The German Army currently needs approximately 80,000 additional active military personnel.

No Entanto, a NATO estimates that Germany needs approximately 260,000 men and women In the Armed Forces to resist an attack, for example, from Russia.

Thus, military service should mainly serve to increase reserves, with plans to start with 15,000 new recruits and introduce a compulsory medical examination from 2027.

For military registration, young people must fill out a questionnaire indicating their disposition and aptitude for military service.

The New Military Service It is intended for the age group from 18 to 25 years and Pistorius wants to implement several measures to make this option more attractive, including a salary increase. Thus, the recruits will be paid as temporary soldiers and will receive more than 2,000 euros net per month.

Pistorius believes that changes will be made to the bill during the parliamentary process and emphasized that “general rule, no law leaves Bundestag [Parlamento alemão] as it entered. “” The same will happen in this case, “explained the German minister.

The president of the German Armed Forces Association, André Wustnerstated that the Bill presents deficiencies and argued that although it represents an improvement in relation to the current situation, “It’s still insufficient”given the problems with the recruitment of personnel.