Germany's military conscription could return under Merz's leadership Aims for 30,000 Recruits

Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany’s opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has committed to “gradually reintroducing” military conscription if he becomes Chancellor, targeting a small but selective draft of young men and women.

Merz outlined plans for up to 30,000 conscripts to be trained annually, with the goal of bolstering the strength of Germany's active reserve, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

This move comes as the German armed forces face a significant personnel shortage, with the number of professional soldiers falling 30,000 short of the 210,000 target. Defence experts suggest that an additional 60,000 reservists are needed to ensure the country’s defensive capabilities are not compromised.

Earlier this year, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius attempted to reinstate conscription on a limited scale for the first time since it was suspended in 2011. However, this proposal was met with opposition from other political figures, stalling its progress.

In a speech delivered at the Federal Academy for Security Policy in Berlin, Merz described a gradual return to conscription as a “good path,” although he acknowledged that it would not be implemented immediately. Foreign and defence policy are shaping up to be key issues in the lead-up to the Bundestag election on February 23.

While Chancellor Olaf Scholz has positioned himself as the "chancellor of peace," advocating for Ukraine’s support while avoiding unnecessary provocation of Russia, Merz has taken a firmer stance. He argues that Ukraine should be supported in its efforts to reclaim all of its occupied territory and has threatened to provide long-range Taurus cruise missiles should he assume office.

Despite the CDU's commanding lead in the polls, Merz faces challenges in maintaining momentum. A recent YouGov poll indicated a surge in support for Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD), which gained three points, reaching 18%, while the CDU’s share fell to 30%.

Merz reiterated his belief in military strength as the key to peace in Europe, stating that "weakness invites aggression." He also criticized Scholz for delaying the delivery of vital weapons systems to Ukraine and for taking independent actions, such as his recent phone call with President Putin.

While Merz vowed to strengthen Germany's military, he stopped short of setting a specific defence spending goal beyond Nato's 2% GDP threshold. He acknowledged the difficulty in meeting this target, as Germany’s €100 billion rearmament fund has already been depleted, and the regular defence budget remains €30 billion short of the Nato target.

By Aghakazim Guliyev