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2h ago

Gabriel and Bartels Urge Return to Conscription as Cabinet Preps Vote on Volunteer Service Law

Their appeals increase pressure on a coalition plan favoring incentive-based voluntary enlistment with a conditional draft fallback.

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Laut Sigmar Gabriel (SPD) dient eine starke Bundeswehr der Kriegsverhinderung
Angesichts der angespannten Sicherheitslage sprechen sich der frühere Außenminister Sigmar Gabriel und der ehemalige Wehrbeauftragte des Bundestages Hans-Peter Bartels (beide SPD) für eine Rückkehr zur Wehrpflicht aus.

Overview

  • Former SPD leader Sigmar Gabriel told the Tagesspiegel that Germany should reinstate conscription to rebuild a territorial army with sufficient reservists.
  • Ex-armed forces commissioner Hans-Peter Bartels warned NATO strength goals cannot be met without a real draft, citing targets of 260,000 active troops and 460,000 with reservists versus about 180,000 today.
  • Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has drafted a service law centered on voluntary enlistment and financial incentives that is slated for cabinet consideration at the end of the month, aiming to take effect around January 2026.
  • Conscription was suspended in 2011 but remains in the Basic Law and could be reinstated by a simple majority in the Bundestag.
  • SPD parliamentary leader Matthias Miersch has indicated there would be no return to compulsory service before the next federal election unless volunteer recruitment proves insufficient.