Germany’s Green party has voiced legal concerns and expressed doubts about the timely implementation of proposed reforms to Germany’s military service system. Speaking to the Funke Media Group, Sara Nanni, the Green party’s spokesperson on security policy, stated that the Defense Ministry’s draft legislation carries potential legal challenges related to equality and fairness in military service.
Nanni questioned the constitutionality of a potential mandatory service applying only to a segment of eligible men, raising the possibility of legal challenges regarding equal treatment under the law. She suggested the Federal Constitutional Court may be called upon to rule on the matter, potentially causing societal disruption, a situation that contributed to the suspension of mandatory service in the past.
While acknowledging the rationality of the Defense Ministry’s initial focus on voluntary service, Nanni anticipates legal challenges from conscripted men arguing gender inequality. She posits that the application of mandatory service solely to men in 2025, given current societal norms, may conflict with constitutionally guaranteed gender equality.
Nanni also expressed skepticism that the governing coalition will be able to pass the legislation as intended and have it take effect on January 1, 2026. She highlighted ongoing disagreements regarding an automatic conscription mechanism demanded by the opposition, characterizing it as a fundamental unresolved conflict that could threaten the coalition’s unity. Nanni indicated her party will not support the legislation in its current form, urging the coalition to secure majority support independently.
She further argued that now is not the right time for an automatic conscription system, as the Bundeswehr has not yet explored all options for achieving its objectives without resorting to mandatory service. Nanni also maintained that personnel problems within the Bundeswehr will not be resolved solely by increasing the number of conscripts, emphasizing the need to retain existing soldiers and improve the development of reserve forces, which she described as currently being in a dire state.
