Germany parliament passes military service law amid tensions with Russia News
By Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
Germany parliament passes military service law amid tensions with Russia

German parliament on Friday voted to pass a bill that would impose military conscription, following rising tensions between Russia and European Union (EU) states.

With 323 votes in support  and 272 against, the bill introduces a two-stage conscription process. If voluntary service does not meet the set quotas, a need-based conscription can be activated by parliament.

Starting in 2026, the government will send a questionnaire to all 18-year-old men and women to determine their “motivation and suitability for service in the armed forces.” For women, completing the survey will be optional, whereas for men it will be mandatory.

Opposition came mostly from parties on the far right or left of Germany’s political spectrum. The AfD, the country’s main far-right party, stated that the government is not addressing the real issues faced by the military, calling attempts to lure more youth to enlist with pay increases a “superficial” solution. The Left Party (Die Linke) rejected a return to conscription or a system of on-demand conscription, stating that young people should have things to do other than “risking their lives for the rich.”

Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius asserted that this law is not about sending youth to fight in Ukraine, but rather “a critical step towards our ability to defend ourselves,” according to a statement given to media.

Amid months of heated debate, the bill has faced protests in the country. Particularly, critics oppose compulsory medical examinations, seeing them as the first step towards full conscription, and fearing that the number of volunteers joining might not be enough to avoid the activation of need-based conscription.

The bill comes as Germany and other NATO member-states have committed to expanded defense budgets amid US pressure and calls for a fairer distribution of spending. In July, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised the agreement between NATO members and the US for more defense spending as a step towards deterring future wars through enhanced military power.

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