Changes to military service voted on in Germany, students organize protests

The German parliament approved the draft law on changes to military service by 323 votes in favor, 272 against and one abstention, introducing elements of compulsory conscription if the Bundeswehr's needs are not met by volunteers. However, student demonstrations are taking place across the country today against the new model, which will come into effect on July 1, 2027.

Speaking in the Bundestag, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) defended the changes, emphasizing that Germany “does not defend itself, but this must be done by people who are willing to defend it and not just stand on the sidelines waiting for others to do so,” while citing the examples of Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania and Croatia, which, he said, “reacted to the changing threat situation and reintroduced a form of compulsory service.”

Referring to the student protests, the Minister of Defense said that, while he remains convinced of the correctness of the new measures, he also considers it "excellent" that young people are reacting, "because this shows that they are interested, that they are committed and that they know what is at stake."

In a recent poll by the YouGov Institute on behalf of the German News Agency (dpa), 62% of respondents said they somewhat agreed with the government's initial plans for voluntary conscription, while 31% disagreed. With the final draft law and the introduction of compulsory conscription, 53% agreed and 37% disagreed.

Under the new legislation, at the age of 18, men will have to fill out a questionnaire, and women will have to voluntarily fill out a questionnaire, in which they will describe, among other things, their activities, as well as their interest in military service or other voluntary services.

Medical examinations will follow and, based on their results, lists of recruits will be drawn up, "so that the Bundeswehr knows who to call up in the event of a national emergency or the return of compulsory service."

The new legislation also seeks to make military service more attractive so that needs are met mainly by volunteers, who, if they commit for at least 12 months, will receive a gross monthly salary of 2,600 euros. The government's goal is to increase the number of active soldiers from 183,000 to 255,000 to 270,000 by 2035 and add an additional 200,000 reservists.

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