Overview
- The coalition’s Wehrdienst reform is now before the Bundestag, with CDU/CSU and SPD still divided over fallback measures if volunteer recruitment falls short.
- Pistorius says compulsory, nationwide screening of young men is needed for preparedness and deterrence, targets mid-2027 for full muster capability, and aims for the law to take effect in early 2026.
- A small cross-party group floated a two-step lottery that would first determine who must report for screening and then, if necessary, who would be conscripted.
- Legal experts disagree on whether a lottery complies with the Basic Law, raising the prospect of a Constitutional Court test if such a mechanism is enacted.
- Counseling groups for conscientious objectors report surging inquiries, including from concerned parents, reflecting heightened public uncertainty.