Growing threat situation
Söder wants compulsory military service – at least seven months
December 31, 2023, 1:02 a.m
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In 2011, compulsory military service was suspended – and effectively abolished. But times have changed. CSU boss Söder is now calling for the suspension to be reversed. This would also increase young people’s ties to the state and society.
Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder advocates reintroducing compulsory military service for at least seven months. “From today’s perspective, the suspension was a mistake,” said the CSU boss to “Bild am Sonntag”. The argument back then was “that we no longer have a threat in Europe. That’s different now. If the threat situation is growing, reintroducing compulsory military service makes sense.”
This won’t happen overnight, the CSU chairman continued. “We are talking about implementation over a period of five years at the earliest in order to adapt the necessary structures,” said Söder. “To ensure proper basic training, it should last at least seven months.” Such a service would also strengthen “young people’s ties to the state and society.”
A “general service obligation” could be an alternative, but would be “constitutionally difficult to enforce,” added the CSU chairman. Conscription applies to men and social service applies to everyone, said Söder – “although of course the Bundeswehr is open to women.”
In the meantime, Söder advocated a bonus for those who do voluntary military service. “The current offer is not attractive enough,” he said. “Everyone who voluntarily serves for a year should receive a bonus: for example, a reduction in the numerus clausus for studying, waiver of practical semesters or a shortening of the training period.”
Compulsory military service was suspended in July 2011 after 55 years by the then Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg. In practice, this amounted to an abolition of military and civilian service, as all structures for the mustering and training of larger numbers of soldiers were also abolished.