Germany has reached a compromise on conscription after intensive negotiations among the ruling coalition parties, adopting a system of random draws if voluntary recruitment targets are not met.

Under this system, all young men who fill out a mandatory questionnaire will enter random draws. A selected group will then undergo medical examinations and personal interviews. If the required number of volunteers is not achieved, those chosen through the draws will be obligated to perform compulsory military service for at least six months.

The ruling parties previously disagreed on this issue, with the Christian Union bloc calling for a full revival of compulsory service, while the Social Democratic Party insisted on a volunteer model. This compromise came after a week-long suspension of discussions on the new law.

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is scheduled to present a detailed report outlining the army’s actual needs regarding the number of recruits and the appropriate timing to start implementation. This report will form the basis for any future decisions on enhancing compulsory elements in the system.

The new model is based on a similar system applied in Denmark, while retaining the government’s authority to declare full compulsory conscription in security emergencies with parliamentary approval.

Practical steps to implement this system are expected in the coming days, with parliamentary groups discussing the compromise solution on Tuesday, followed by a public announcement on Wednesday, and the first reading of the bill in parliament on Thursday.