Norbert Röttgen, deputy parliamentary group leader for the CDU/CSU in the German Bundestag, has voiced strong criticism of the draft law on military service presented by Defence Minister Boris Pistorius. Röttgen argues the legislation contains significant deficiencies and requires substantial revisions to effectively strengthen Germany’s armed forces and meet its security obligations.
Röttgen emphasized the importance of the bill as a key component of coalition agreements and a crucial step toward bolstering national defence capabilities. He stated that the current draft fails to adequately address key security policy requirements, particularly concerning concrete timelines and measurable goals for increasing military personnel.
Specifically, Röttgen highlighted the lack of specific targets for reaching NATO-agreed personnel levels. According to initial estimates from the Defence Ministry, approximately 460,000 soldiers will be needed to fulfill NATO commitments, including 260,000 active personnel and 200,000 reservists; currently around 170,000 active soldiers are available, leaving a shortfall of around 90,000. He proposes establishing milestones with annual increases of 10,000 additional soldiers starting in 2026 and clear contingency plans should these targets not be met.
Regarding potential conscription, Röttgen asserted that the draft law only partially implements the coalition agreement’s reference to the Swedish model, which includes automatic conscription if voluntary recruitment goals are unmet. Pistorius’s current proposal relies solely on voluntary service without establishing a clear pathway to conscription if necessary.
Röttgen criticized what he sees as a party-political focus on voluntary service, arguing that given assessments of a potentially heightened security threat from Russia by 2029, Germany cannot afford delays in strengthening its defence. He views conscription as a crucial deterrent and a demonstration of societal resilience and preparedness.
He also raised concerns about the proposed activation of conscription only through executive order in response to a worsening security situation, arguing this would render it a reactive measure rather than a deterrent and delay its effectiveness. He criticized the current timeline for introducing mandatory registration, initially planned for 2028 but now postponed to July 2027, as being too slow.
Röttgen stated the Union parliamentary group cannot support a bill with these deficiencies, emphasizing the need for immediate action and a failure to deliver would have significant consequences. He stressed the urgency of fulfilling a national obligation and ensuring Germany’s security and its commitments to its allies.
