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Thuringia's Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow (Die Linke)
Photo: David Hutzler / dpa
The Left Party has been shaken by serious internal strife since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began.
The latest statements by Thuringia's Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow should cause even more discussion.
The left-wing politician spoke out in favor of general conscription in Germany: “Unlike my party, I am in favor of a well-equipped Bundeswehr as well as general conscription,” Ramelow wrote in his blog.
However, both must be designed in a modern way "and the mission of the troops must be formulated so clearly that the population can unite behind their goals".
In the entry that Ramelow published on Tuesday, the 66-year-old advocates a "parliamentary army for national defense".
In alliance with European partners, they must be able to defend Germany and Europe – »no more and no less«, as Ramelow writes.
In his opinion, such an army should be limited to defense - without foreign missions such as in Afghanistan or in Mali: "National defense as a mission," Ramelow explained on Wednesday when asked.
Ramelow calls for a debate on increasing the Bundeswehr budget
In addition, Ramelow renewed his call for a social debate on the federal government's plans to massively increase funds for the Bundeswehr.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) announced on Sunday a "special fund" of 100 billion euros to strengthen Germany's defense capabilities - "for necessary investments and armaments projects".
In light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a debate has arisen in Germany about reintroducing universal conscription.
It was suspended in 2011 after 55 years under the then Minister of Defense Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (CSU), which in practice amounted to the abolition of military and civilian service.
Leading SPD politicians recently spoke out against reintroducing conscription.
There was also skepticism about such a move from the ranks of the CDU and FDP.
CSU boss Markus Söder was also critical: he saw “little point” in reintroducing conscription.
He was also “very skeptical” about general compulsory service.
On the one hand, he sees a "constitutional problem" if young people are obliged to do a one-year service.
In addition, the plan would “mean an enormous amount of additional bureaucracy”.
And after two years of the corona pandemic, it is not the time “to make young people even more uncertain,” said Söder in Munich.
Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, on the other hand
The voices of opponents are also increasing outside of the parties.
The Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, Eberhard Zorn, said in an interview on Wednesday that the armed forces need "well-trained, and in some cases even highly specialized, personnel" to ward off cyber attacks, for example.
Conscripts couldn't do that.
"Conscription, as we know it, is not necessary in the current situation," Zorn told the newspapers of the Funke media group.
The Bundeswehr and its tasks have changed.
"For combat in cyberspace, to name just one example, conscripts are absolutely unsuitable."
Zorn also pointed out that a decision of this magnitude cannot be made quickly.
"With a view to restructuring the Bundeswehr back into an armed force that is essentially based on mobilization from the people, there must first be a debate in society as a whole." In addition, the "clarification of legal and constitutional issues" is necessary.
col/dpa/AFP