According to information from the ARD Capital Studio, the CDU/CSU and SPD parliamentary groups have agreed on changes to the planned military service model. The agreement also includes plans for a lottery system for recruitment.
In the debate about the new military service, the CDU/CSU and SPD parliamentary groups have agreed on changes to the planned model. According to information from the ARD Capital Studio, a lottery system will also be introduced for recruitment.
The draft bill is currently being presented to the parliamentary groups. The Süddeutsche Zeitung first reported on it. Details of the agreement will be announced later. The first reading in the Bundestag is scheduled for this Thursday.
Spahn:"Good solution"
SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch had previously stated that there were "key points." He added: "It was always important to us that we rely on the element of voluntariness." CDU/CSU parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn spoke of a "good solution." Both sides had wrestled hard. This included the question of how to find the fairest possible procedure. In his view, a lottery system was the fairest option.
Over the weekend, media reported on the possible introduction of a lottery system in the current draft of the Military Service Act, quoting sources from parliamentary groups. The idea: If there aren't enough volunteers, a lottery would be held among those who had to complete the questionnaire to determine who would be drafted and, if necessary, required to serve for at least six months.
In addition, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is reportedly expected to provide figures outlining the number of conscripts he will need from a certain point in time. These figures would be used as criteria for the possible use of mandatory elements.
Three-stage process planned
According to coalition sources, a three-tier system based on the Danish model is now planned. The Reuters news agency reports. All male members of a given year must complete a questionnaire on military service and can volunteer for at least six months.
If not enough volunteers are found, a second step is a random draw within the year group. Those selected will first be specifically persuaded to volunteer. If this fails, the Bundestag would have to pass a resolution in a third step and forcibly draft those missing.
CSU regional group leader Alexander Hoffmann recently rejected legal concerns about a lottery system. The Union has commissioned a legal opinion stating that such a regulation would be compatible with the Basic Law, he said. A lottery system serves to establish equality in a selection process."The lottery process ensures this equality because everyone has the same chance, or lack of chance, of being selected," Hoffmann said.
Union called for changes
The cabinet had already approved a draft bill for the new military service at the end of August. It stipulates that young adult men will be required to complete a questionnaire regarding their willingness to serve in the Bundeswehr; women can do so voluntarily. A reintroduction of conscription is not planned, but remains an option if not enough volunteers sign up. According to this draft, there should be no automatic process for this.
This drew criticism from the CDU/CSU, which is demanding clearer criteria for determining when conscription could be triggered. This sparked a debate about changes to the Defense Minister's draft even before the first parliamentary debate. The first reading, scheduled for last week, was removed from the Bundestag's agenda to allow time for internal deliberations.
