Young Greens refuse to support "revised mandatory military service".
The Green Youth union isn't thrilled about the proposed "New Military Service" model by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. According to Appuhn, a spokeswoman for the Green Youth, the current generation is already struggling with various crises, so burdening them with this new service isn't ideal. There are concerns from the Union that the model is unclear.
Svenja Appuhn, the co-spokeswoman for the Green Youth, believes the focus should be on ensuring military service remains voluntary, even with mandatory enlistment. "There are many ways to make the Bundeswehr more attractive to young people, without simply treating them as a resource for politics," she said. Appuhn also emphasized the need for equal treatment of volunteers and conscripts.
She suggested that a conversation on the "ridiculous pocket money in voluntary service" was necessary. "400 euros a month, which doesn't even cover accommodation or travel expenses most of the time, is a laughable amount," she explained. Appuhn also highlighted that it's not just personnel shortages in the Bundeswehr, but also a growing number of critical roles in healthcare that need to be filled.
Johann Wadephul, the chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, shared similar sentiments of skepticism. He told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND) that it wasn't clear if the Defense Minister wanted to create a broader base for voluntary Bundeswehr recruitment or a larger pool of potential protectors and guards, which would resemble a militia. Pistorius is also lacking in details, added Wadephul.
With the "New Military Service," Pistorius aims to increase the number of conscripts by 5,000 each year starting from 2025, from approximately 400,000 eligible individuals. The new model would include a six-month basic service with the option for an additional 17 months of voluntary enlistment. A mandatory registration questionnaire will be introduced, making it compulsory for young men to state their willingness and capacity for military service. While young women can fill out the questionnaire, it's not mandatory for them to do so.
