The SPD parliamentary group leader in the Bundestag, Rolf Mützenich, does not think much of a return to compulsory military service. “At this point in time, we should primarily work on making the Bundeswehr more attractive. It needs to be better equipped, barracks need to be repaired. We should concentrate on that,” he told the Germany editorial network.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) told “Welt am Sonntag” that, given the shortage of personnel in the troops, he was examining models of compulsory military service and mentioned the Swedish conscription model. “All young women and men are mustered there, and only a selected number of them end up doing basic military service. Whether something like that would also be conceivable here is part of these considerations,” said the SPD politician. However, he pointed out that – regardless of the model – a political majority is needed.
SPD leader Saskia Esken had also rejected the minister’s considerations about reactivating compulsory military service. She told the German Press Agency: “I believe that the Bundeswehr, as a professional army, is now well positioned and needs to be further developed.” The FDP had also rejected the defense minister’s considerations.
