Berlin (dpa) – A majority of Germans support reinstating conscription ahead of parliamentary debates on a new military service law later this week, according to a Forsa survey.

The poll, commissioned by Stern magazine and broadcaster RTL, found 54% in favour of mandatory service in the Bundeswehr, Germany’s armed forces, 41% opposed and 5% undecided.

The survey was conducted on October 9 and 10 among 1,008 respondents and described as representative by Stern.

Mandatory military service was suspended in Germany in 2011, effectively ending both conscription and civilian service.

Support is strongest among voters of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative bloc, with 74% backing a return to conscription. More than half (58%) of supporters of the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) also favoured the measure.

Germany’s ruling coalition of the centre-right bloc and SPD is struggling to reach a compromise on legislation for a new voluntary military service.

Lawmakers are debating how to handle potential shortfalls if not enough volunteers enlist. The first reading of the draft bill has been postponed by a week and is now scheduled for Thursday.

Source: dpa.com