Germany’s opposition moves to derail the first debate of a new military service law.

Germany’s Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, has accused the centre-right Union alliance of acting irresponsibly by trying to halt the Bundestag’s first debate on his military service bill, due next week. The draft remains on the federal parliament’s agenda for now, though it could be withdrawn, according to sources.

Pistorius’s plan would rebuild personnel in the Bundeswehr, Germany’s armed forces, by recruiting tens of thousands of volunteers each year, with provisions to expand the system if needed. The conservative Union, comprising the Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian sister party, considers the proposal insufficiently developed and says it fails to spell out clear conditions for shifting from voluntary service to compulsory conscription. Senior Union figures, including CDU politician Johann Wadephul and parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn, argue for an immediate return to mandatory service. Spahn cites growing drone threats and Russia’s militarisation to justify the move.

The minister countered that there are established parliamentary routes to register concerns — from tabling amendments to holding expert hearings — without blocking a first reading. He questioned the relevance of drone flights to the structure of military service and said the attempt to delay debate was contradictory, surprising many in government. Pistorius also accused the Union of damaging the government’s standing and eroding public trust.

The first reading had been planned for the coming week, following a cabinet-approved draft that came after internal coalition tensions over the design of the system. While Wadephul initially opposed Pistorius’s approach, the governing coalition ultimately coalesced around the bill. Whether the opposition’s manoeuvre forces a postponement will shape the timeline for any overhaul of service obligations and the Bundeswehr’s ability to expand its ranks.