Union halts Pistorius's military service bill for now
The German opposition Union has decided to pause Defense Minister Boris Pistorius's proposed military service bill for now. This move comes just before a scheduled committee discussion in the Bundestag. The Union calls for a broader debate on security policy.
The Union parliamentary group in the Bundestag announced on Tuesday that it would halt Defense Minister Boris Pistorius's (SPD) military service bill for the time being. Roderich Kiesewetter, the CDU/CSU's security policy spokesman, stated: "We are stopping the further procedure of the conscription law for now." The decision was made shortly before the planned discussion of the draft in the Bundestag's defense committee on Wednesday.
The bill provides for selective conscription of young men to strengthen the Bundeswehr. The background is Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, which has prompted Germany and Europe to realign their defense policies. Pistorius described the law as a necessary step to improve the Bundeswehr's military capabilities.
The Union criticizes the draft as insufficient and calls for a broader discussion on overall security policy. Kiesewetter emphasized that the law alone would not suffice to meet the challenges. The traffic light coalition of SPD, Greens, and FDP supports the proposal and sees it as an important contribution to Germany's defense capability.
The Union's halt delays further processing of the law. It remains to be seen whether and when deliberations will resume. The debate on conscription is gaining intensity in Germany, as the Bundeswehr struggles with a shortage of personnel amid a tense geopolitical situation.