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Young politicians discussed conscription and arms deliveries on “Markus Lanz” – the chairman of the Junge Union did not hold back.
Hamburg – The geopolitical situation remains tense. With a war in Europe and Putin’s threats to NATO, discussions about arms deliveries to Ukraine are more topical than ever. At the same time, the debate about reintroducing compulsory military service in Germany is gaining momentum – including between the chairmen of party youth associations of the CDU, SPD, FDP and the Greens, as the current discussion with Markus Lanz shows.
“I find it irresponsible”: Junge Union boss Markus Lanz wants to go back to compulsory military service
On the ZDF talk show “Markus Lanz” there was disagreement between the young politicians on Wednesday evening (May 22nd). Also on the subject of compulsory military service: “We all ramble a lot, clever essays, talk shows, etc., about how we have to defend our democracy,” said chairwoman of the Junge Union, Johannes Winkel. “But in a real emergency, and unfortunately that is more likely than ten years ago when we suspended compulsory military service, we say: Yes, well, then maybe someone will help us. I find that irresponsible!”
He knows that compulsory military service is a “massive interference with the freedom of young people.” But: “All experts agree that we live in a country that cannot defend itself in an emergency. I think this is an untenable situation!” says Winkel.
Discussion about conscription at Markus Lanz – Juso boss warns: “Not the resources”
The guests from the other parties rejected compulsory military service. “We need well-trained, highly qualified people in the Bundeswehr. A well-trained professional army,” explained the head of the Young Socialists, Philipp Türmer. “It’s not about funneling 800,000 people through the Bundeswehr every year. We don’t have the resources for that.” When it comes to building up the Bundeswehr, “18- or 19-year-olds who can just about hold an assault rifle are of no use to us,” he added.
Svenja Appuhn, chairwoman of the Green Youth Party, also relies on a voluntary model: “I do not want it to become normal in our society that people learn to kill for their country and, if in doubt, to die!”
John Winkel | JU chairman |
Philipp Türmer | Juso chairman |
Franziska Brandmann | Young Liberal leader |
Svenja Appuhn | Green Youth Co-Chair |
Conscription debate in Germany: CDU and Greens could come to an agreement
The head of the Junge Union responded: “All voluntary models that we have tried in the Bundeswehr over the last thirteen or fourteen years have unfortunately failed. I would also find it better if it were voluntary, but unfortunately it is not possible.”
In federal politics, the situation looks somewhat different than in the ZDF talk show: Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) is in favor of compulsory military service. There could also be an agreement between the black and green parties. “With the question of compulsory military service, the CDU is addressing a real problem. The Bundeswehr needs more personnel,” said Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens) in a recent interview with the New Osnabrücker Zeitung. Accordingly, the Greens are ready to hold a dialogue with the CDU about compulsory military service.
Weapons debate also on Markus Lanz on ZDF: Dispute over Taurus cruise missiles for Ukraine
The topic of arms deliveries in the Ukraine war also sparked a heated debate on Markus Lanz. The young politicians spoke out in favor of delivering the Taurus cruise missile. But the federal government is currently against it. The reason: the Taurus has a considerable range. Ukraine could aim for targets in Russia – which is why there are concerns that Germany will be drawn into the war.
The Junge Union leader sees another reason behind the hesitation: “The SPD is not concerned about Taurus at all. Nor about technical details, how far he can fly, whether he can get to Russia or not. Just like with Marder and Leopard, the SPD is concerned with deliberately symbolically not supplying a weapon in order to sell itself as a peace party in the election campaign.”
Juso boss Turmer didn’t put up with that. “You are making an assessment that requires information that none of us have. And I find that so difficult in debates about individual types of weapons.” The decision on certain weapons deliveries would be based on information that “for good reason the whole world does not know,” explained Türmer. “There are strategic questions that are not designed to be discussed on talk shows!” (hk)
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