Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius on Wednesday described as «valuable» the debate on the possible reimposition of compulsory military service and argued that it could strengthen the armed forces, rescue services and disaster relief.
Pistorius has maintained in statements granted to the German news agency DPA that the priority should be to listen to the youngest in order to consolidate a political position on the issue. «I have not expressly pronounced myself in favor of reactivating it,» he said, before stressing that his position is simply in favor of the debate.
The minister has been reluctant to «impose a general service obligation on a generation that already has a difficult future ahead of it,» although he stressed that there are favorable points. «In recent months, the impression has arisen that some people do not have the necessary appreciation for the fire department and the Red Cross, the police and the Bundeswehr,» he stressed.
«Compulsory service could help bring people and state organizations a little closer together,» Pistorius has defended. «It could remind us how important these institutions are for the functioning of our society,» he concluded.
Compulsory military service was suspended in Germany in 2011 after 55 years under then Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, which effectively meant abolishing military and civilian service. However, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has prompted renewed discussion of its possible reinstatement.
Generally speaking, the concept of general compulsory service is understood as service rendered by citizens for a certain period of time. The Armed Forces could then be an option alongside other activities, for example in the social sector.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
