Parties in Germany's ruling CDU/CSU and SPD coalition have reached a compromise in their dispute over a new conscription bill, which includes a lottery system in case of a shortage of volunteers.
According to media group RND, the compromise included the random selection of all young Germans who filled out a mandatory questionnaire to undergo a medical examination and interview. If there are not enough volunteers, those selected will have to complete 6 months of military service.
Then Defense Ministry chief Boris Pistorius had to make calculations about when and how many new recruits he would need. The information provided will be used as criteria to be able to recommend the required components of the service.
The decision was partly based on the Danish model, which operates a similar lottery system. The bill previously approved by the government states that the Cabinet of Ministers, with parliamentary approval, can announce mandatory military conscription if “the situation in the defense sector requires the rapid build-up of the armed forces, which is not possible on a voluntary basis.”
Both sides plan to discuss the compromise reached on Tuesday. The public will be informed of the results on Wednesday and the first reading of the bill in the Bundestag will be held on Thursday.
Previously, it was reported that the Bundeswehr was developing a Deutschland plan to transfer 800,000 NATO troops to Germany in 48 hours.
