The executive Minister of Defense
Boris Pistorius (SPD) wants to start the new military service this year. “The corresponding law is largely prepared, it could come into force this year,” said Pistorius, who could lead the ministry in the new government. The Ministry of Defense could “quickly present a draft”.
Union and SPD In the coalition agreement had agreed on a new and initially based military service model. “We assume that we will win enough volunteers with an attractive military service,” said Pistorius. “If this is not the case one day, it will be decided to convene young men mandatory.” This year, Schwarz-Rot wants to create the prerequisites for military recording and weir monitoring.
Pistorius wants to orientate himself on a model that applies in Sweden. Men aged 18 and over would therefore have to fill out a questionnaire. “This guarantees the military recording. Then the Bundeswehr addresses the people suitable for them whether they want to do basic military service,” said Pistorius Mirror. Problems so that the personnel requirements of the Bundeswehr Pistorius does not expect to be able to cover. The Swedes had successfully practiced this over several years. If enough volunteers were won in the first few years, a duty does not have to be discussed at all, “he said. Only if the numbers are too small in the end,” would have to be decided on compulsory elements “.
The reserve must also grow
The Bundeswehr is currently shrinking slightly, although it should actually grow. At the turn of the year, she had 181,000 soldiers, at the end of 2022 there were still 183,000. SPD and Union agree that the Bundeswehr must be strengthened, said Pistorius. “This means not only the standing armed forces, that is, the approximately 180,000 men and women, but also the reserve,” said Pistorius. However, there are no longer the same capacities as 30 years ago. Beds, barracks, trainers and material are missing. “We will probably have around 5,000 military service providers in the first year.”
Pistorius said that Mirror“He does not yet know” not 100 percent “whether he would continue the office of Minister of Defense in a new government. The SPD staff will only be presented after the membership vote on the coalition agreement. “But there is a lot to say about it,” said the SPD politician.
