Germany is facing a political crisis after the parties in the governing coalition failed to reach a consensus on the reintroduction of military service, and a bill has been canceled.

Germany is in a new political crisis, after the parties in the governing coalition failed to agree on the reintroduction of military service. A press conference scheduled to detail the reform was abruptly canceled, just two days before the bill was to be discussed in parliament. Chancellor Friedrich Merz aims to transform Germany into a conventional military power in Europe, but the plan to introduce mandatory military service was rejected at the last moment.

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius denied sabotaging the chancellor's plans but emphasized the difficulties of implementing a mandatory system. He supports a model based on volunteerism and medical assessments for 18-year-olds, with implementation starting in 2027. The government aims to expand the armed forces from 183,000 to 260,000 active military personnel by 2035, in the context of NATO pressures.

The reintroduction of military service remains a sensitive topic in Germany, and a survey shows that 54% of Germans support this measure, but opposition is strong among the youth. Although political debates continue, the Defense Minister promises that a new bill will be submitted "in time to come into effect next year."