German coalition parties agree on military service reform
13 November 2025 11:14
The ruling Social Democratic Party of Germany and the Christian Democratic and Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) have reached a compromise on new rules for military service, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports citing the dpa news agency.
The compromise provides for a general medical examination to determine fitness for military service. In addition, the targets for the number of personnel in the country’s armed forces – the Bundeswehr – have been agreed upon. If it is not possible to reach the required number of those wishing to perform military service on a voluntary basis, the German parliament may introduce the so-called “military duty on demand”.
Candidates for military service will be selected by lot.
“The Bundestag decides by law on the introduction of military service on demand, especially if the defense and political situation or the personnel situation in the armed forces make it necessary,” dpa quotes a part of the document on compulsory military service.
The factions of the ruling parties in the Bundestag are to be informed on the morning of November 13 about the results of the negotiations that took place the night before.
The Bundestag’s first reading vote on German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius’ law on new conscription rules was scheduled for October 9, but was postponed due to disagreements in the parliamentary working group among representatives of the ruling party factions.
