(de-news.net) – Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has actively engaged in discussions surrounding the introduction of a mandatory service year. He has now emphasized its significance as a “practical contribution to democracy and a livable future,” advocating for its inclusion in shaping the nation’s political trajectory. Steinmeier urged the incoming government to advance the debate, recalling his earlier proposal during his second term for a universal societal service. He underscored the democratic state’s role in fostering responsibility and inclusivity through such initiatives, aiming for a fairer, more humane, and sustainable society.

The debate has extended to mandatory military and social service. The CDU advocates reinstating conscription, suspended in 2011, under Article 12a of the Basic Law, which permits young men to be drafted for military or societal duties. They propose alternatives like service in the Technical Relief Agency. Conversely, the SPD supports voluntary military service, as suggested by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD). Bundestag’s military commissioner Eva Högl (also SPD) sees potential in new forms of conscription, proposing mandatory surveys and medical examinations for young men, with voluntary participation for women. However, constitutional amendments required for broader changes are difficult to implement under current parliamentary conditions.