Green leader Brantner criticizes Merz: weak leadership in military service!

Green leader Brantner criticizes Merz: weak leadership in military service!

In today's debate on the subject of military service, the political leaders in Germany are attracting attention. During a party conference in Erfurt, the federal chairwoman of the Green Party, Franziska Brantner, sharply questioned the leadership of the CDU and SPD. Brantner particularly criticized Chancellor Friedrich Merz and accused him of acting weakly in the discussion about a lottery system for military service. In her opinion, the current state of these two parties is a reflection of weak leadership that is now evident across the board, especially when it comes to support for Ukraine. Merz is also criticized for his hesitant stance on the issue of delivering Taurus cruise missiles to the country. According to Brantner, the coalition of CDU and SPD could prove to be even more divided than the previous traffic light coalition, which was at the end of its legislative period.

Military service has been in the headlines again and again in recent weeks. On October 14, 2025, political ambiguities on this topic were discussed in a broadcast by Markus Lanz. It turned out that the cabinet decision of August 27 required all 18-year-olds to fill out an aptitude questionnaire about their interest in military service. While men have to fill out this questionnaire, it remains voluntary for women. The discussion about conscription is seen by many as essential for the future of the Bundeswehr, which needs more military capabilities to reach NATO's target of 90,000 conscripts by 2035. CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann called for more binding elements in this process.

The failed compromise

After the CDU and SPD quickly agreed on a lottery system for military service, this compromise collapsed after only a short time. Linnemann said that Germany needs 10,000 conscripts every year and would have to consider a lottery system if there are not enough volunteers. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is under fire because he is accused of torpedoing the factions' agreement. Critics from both camps are calling for more clarity and results to stabilize conscription with the help of volunteers. Resistance to these measures is growing, especially among active anti-war activists protesting in Cologne.

Perspectives and challenges

The discussion about military service also aims to strengthen the Bundeswehr. The plan is to increase the number of soldiers to at least 260,000 active soldiers by 2035 and double the number of reservists. A new legal regulation even allows the federal government to activate a call-up order outside of cases of tension or defense. But the approval of the Bundestag remains essential.

The challenges are clear: Critics such as Norbert Röttgen from the CDU and Katharina Dröge from the Greens are already complaining that the current law is not enough to attract young people to the service. The Bundeswehr Association points out important deficiencies in relation to personnel recruitment and retention. The majority of the population is watching developments with skepticism and is wondering whether the Bundeswehr can actually survive with voluntary service.

At a time when the security situation in Europe remains tense due to the Ukraine conflict, military service is becoming more than ever a bone of contention in domestic politics. How the parties can resolve the current conflicts remains to be seen. However, the debates about military reform are anything but over.

For more information on current developments in the military service, check out reports from South Germans, ZDF and daily news to.