Röttgen accused Pistorius, who belongs to the SPD, of “only implementing one side of the compromise by focusing solely on voluntarism,” without clear targets or an automatic mechanism to switch to conscription if volunteer numbers fall short. “That won’t work — there must be mandatory improvements,” he said.
His disagreement is echoed by other Christian Democrats. Multiple parliamentary advisers told POLITICO they doubt the bill, as drafted, could win the political backing needed to pass.
In the last week of July, senior figures from both coalition groupings held a private meeting to test the waters for changing the language of the bill. On the conservative side were Röttgen, Bundestag Defense Committee Chair Thomas Röwekamp and defense working group lead Thomas Erndl. Representing the SPD were Pistorius, deputy parliamentary group leader Siemtje Möller, budget lawmaker Andreas Schwarz and defense ministry parliamentary undersecretary Nils Schmid.
According to two participants from the conservative side, Pistorius showed frustration at the Christian Democratic push to alter the bill, firmly rejecting their ideas and defending the Bundestag trigger clause.
The SPD’s position, Schwarz later told POLITICO, is rooted in the principle that the Bundeswehr is a “parliamentary army” — meaning the legislature, not the executive, must make the call on introducing compulsory service.
“That’s a decision the parliament has to take,” Schwarz said. “If targets aren’t met and the threat level is high, then parliament must decide and, if necessary, tighten the law.”