"Germany is seeking to boost military recruitment to deter a hostile Russia, but a proposed "draft lottery" has sparked a row in the ruling coalition and unsettled many young people. The flashpoint issue of bringing back any form of military conscription has rattled the government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative CDU/CSU bloc and the centre-left Social Democrats of Defence Minister Boris Pistorius."
"So far the Bundeswehr armed forces have banked on a volunteer drive, backed by a social media blitz to polish its image in a country whose dark history has left many citizens distrustful of all things military. So Pistorius was not amused when the conservatives, several days ago, urged that the more coercive option of a possible "draft lottery" be included in legislation now taking shape in parliament."
Germany is seeking to increase military recruitment to deter a hostile Russia and to build the continent's 'strongest conventional army.' Chancellor Friedrich Merz has tasked Defence Minister Boris Pistorius with attracting new troops amid concerns about NATO-Russia tensions and future US security commitments. The Bundeswehr has relied on volunteers and image campaigns, but conservatives proposed including a possible 'draft lottery' in new legislation. Pistorius rejected the measure as a 'lazy compromise,' prompting criticism from CDU lawmakers who said delaying formal provisions would reduce transparency. Many citizens, especially 18-year-old males and their parents, have reacted with alarm to the draft proposal.
Read at The Local Germany
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