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Germany’s Coalition Agrees on Draft Lottery Backstop if Volunteers Fall Short

Lawmakers are advancing the plan through initial Bundestag steps this week as the defense minister sets recruit-need thresholds that would trigger compulsory six-month service.

Overview

  • Under the reported compromise, some men who complete the mandatory questionnaire would be randomly selected for medical checks and could be required to serve if voluntary intake remains insufficient.
  • The questionnaire requirement applies to young men born after December 31, 2007, with women able to opt in voluntarily under a cabinet-backed system slated to start in 2026.
  • Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is to present timing and quantity calculations for recruits, which would guide any shift from voluntary service toward meeting the 260,000 personnel goal by 2035.
  • According to RND, parliamentary groups planned internal talks Tuesday, public briefing Wednesday, and a first reading of the bill Thursday.
  • BSW leader Sara Wagenknecht condemned the lottery approach, while a new Forsa survey found 54% of Germans support bringing back conscription.