Emmanuel Macron könnte in den kommenden Tagen die Einführung eines freiwilligen Militärdienstprogramms in Frankreich bekannt geben (bis zu 50.000 junge Menschen pro Jahr mit einem zusätzlichen Monatseinkommen von 1.000 €).

This project has been under consideration for several months, in a global security context marked by „uncertainty“ and „rising tensions,“ the head of state said on the sidelines of the G20 summit on Saturday.

In a world „full of uncertainty,“ with war raging on Europe’s doorstep, Emmanuel Macron could announce in the coming days the introduction of voluntary military service in France, a project that has been under consideration for several months. Thursday is being considered as the date for the presidential announcement, although this has not been officially confirmed, according to multiple sources.

„In the world we live in, with its uncertainties and rising tensions, if we truly want to be safe, we must deter others from coming (…) France must continue to be a strong nation with a strong army, but also with the capacity for collective action,“ said the head of state on Saturday, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. While the Scandinavian and Baltic countries, neighbors of the Russian giant, have maintained or reinstated compulsory military service in recent years, France suspended conscription in 1997 under President Jacques Chirac.

„Many of our neighbors in Europe are reintroducing national service,“ said Chief of Staff General Fabien Mandon on France 5 on Saturday, adding that this was one of the „factors to be considered in our country.“

„A new framework for service“

Emmanuel Macron introduced this idea of voluntary service on July 13, in front of an audience of high-ranking military officers. Faced with a Europe „endangered“ by the „ongoing threat“ from Russia, „we need a nation that is capable of holding its ground and mobilizing,“ he said. In addition to „efforts on our reserves,“ we must also „give young people a new framework to serve, in other ways, within our armed forces,“ he emphasized, promising „decisions in this regard in the fall.“

When questioned by AFP, the Ministry of the Armed Forces declined to comment on the details of this service, its duration, or its cost. Alice Rufo, Minister Delegate for the Armed Forces, simply stated on France Info on Sunday that „work is underway in this direction.“ „No decisions have been made,“ a source close to the matter told AFP.

Up to 50,000 young people per year

The French armed forces have approximately 200,000 active military personnel and 47,000 reservists, and are expected to grow to 210,000 and 80,000 respectively by 2030. The voluntary mobilization of part of an age group could serve to meet the need to „acquire the mass“ necessary to sustain a conflict over time, according to General Pierre Schill, Chief of Staff of the Army, this summer.

Idea welcomed by politicians
The idea has been welcomed by some French politicians. „Anything that can contribute to the spirit of defense, national resilience, and express the patriotic sentiment that lies dormant in the population is positive,“ commented Cédric Perrin (Les Républicains), chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, in La Tribune on Sunday.

On the far right, Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally (RN), said on Wednesday on X that he was „in favor“ of reinstating compulsory military service, „starting with military service open to volunteers.“

Patrick Kanner, president of the Socialist group in the Senate, remains more cautious. „I am very cautious on this issue (…) I believe in a professional army today. However, if young people want to serve their country, I am naturally in favor of that,“ he told France 3 on Sunday.

The expected decisions also promise to address the uncertain future of universal national service (SNU) for minors aged 15 to 17. This civil service program, launched in 2019 and whose funding has since been cut, never really got off the ground. It consisted mainly of a two-week team-building course.

I got paid less than €20/month, as a Spanish Army conscript, back in 1996, adjusted for inflation.

Enough for a coffee a day at the base’s coffee vending machine [wasn’t bad coffee, actually].

Uh oh

As an American, I wish we had a mandatory service.

There is nothing mixing Americans. We’re losing cohesion.

How many of them are on Candace Owens duty?

He’s worried about Russia and he’s not wrong to be worried.

I guess it takes a whole army to knock off Candace Owens lol