The Bundestag on Friday approved the reintroduction of partial conscription to increase the size of its armed forces in response to new security challenges.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (Social Democratic Party of Germany, SPD) said during the debate preceding the vote:
“Freedoms in a democracy do not defend themselves. It must be taken up by people who are ready to stand behind those freedoms, not those who sit behind the fence and wait for someone else to do it for them.”
Under the new law, military service would be based on a voluntary basis. In the event that a sufficient number of voluntary recruits are not registered in certain years, the Bundestag could temporarily introduce the so-called mandatory military service if necessary.
Mandatory filling in of a questionnaire on readiness for military service and military fitness was also introduced, to be completed by members of one generation upon reaching the age of 18. Filling out this form is mandatory for young men only.
According to the agreement at the NATO level, Germany committed to have 260,000 active soldiers in the German army – Bundeswehr. There are currently about 185,000 soldiers serving in the Bundeswehr.
Voluntary military service would last six months, and a monthly salary of 2,600 euros is expected.
During the debate in the Bundestag on Friday morning, protests against the reintroduction of conscription were held across Germany. The protests, which were mostly attended by high school students, were held under the slogan “We don’t want to be cannon fodder”.
Military service was abolished in Germany in 2011 due to constitutional obstacles, because the system of military obligation could not enable all members of one generation to serve military service.
(Vijesti.ba)
