Unlike many of Macron’s policy proposals, the idea of creating a voluntary military service has garnered widespread support across France’s otherwise polarized political spectrum.
The plan is backed by the conservatives and the far right, including the chair of the Senate’s foreign affairs and defense committee, Cédric Perrin from Les Républicains, and the National Rally’s President Jordan Bardella, who called the ending of conscription “a mistake.”
Bardella said military service should eventually become mandatory again, but conceded the armed forces didn’t have enough money now to train the entire French youth.
On the left, Conway-Mouret doesn’t anticipate resistance either. “If it’s voluntary, I don’t see why there would be any opposition,” she said.
France aims to create a 105,000-strong reserve force by 2035 — a ratio of one reservist for every two active-duty soldiers. That would mark a significant increase from the country’s nearly 44,000 reservists in 2024.
Top French military brass have previously expressed concern about the decline in population and its inevitable impact on recruitment.
Macron first floated the plans in July, with the French prime minister’s office hinting in September that a revamped, optional military service was on the way.
Elisa Bertholomey contributed to this report.