Overview
- Lawmakers approved the reform by 323 votes to 272 with one abstention.
- The plan prioritizes higher‑paid voluntary service and preserves a needs‑based draft that could be activated only by a future parliamentary vote, with force goals of about 260,000 active soldiers and 200,000 reservists by 2035.
- Implementation starts with questionnaires to all 18‑year‑olds in 2026—mandatory for men and voluntary for women—followed by compulsory medical and fitness exams for men born in 2008 or later from mid‑2027.
- Incentives include a starting wage of €2,600 per month for new recruits from early 2026 with a minimum six‑month term, plus perks such as driving‑lesson subsidies for 12‑month commitments.
- The vote triggered school‑student protests in roughly 90 towns and cities, with Berlin police counting about 800 demonstrators in the morning, and the Defence Ministry must report recruitment figures to parliament every six months.