The German constitution, or Basic Law, enshrines people's right not to join the military…
Why so many demonstrators, then? If the Basic Law is sorta like the US Constitution, then I imagine it can’t be quickly or easily changed.
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The German constitution, or Basic Law, enshrines people's right not to join the military…
Why so many demonstrators, then? If the Basic Law is sorta like the US Constitution, then I imagine it can’t be quickly or easily changed.
There was also a law like that in Ukraine. And look how fast that can go away.
I'm not sure if there's a "military or public service" decision this time, but when I had to go these were the options. Learn how to hold a weapon or learn how to wash old people (or drive an ambulance, help at an orphanage, etc).
It sucks, as you're drafted at ~18 years and slightly above, but it's not the end of the world.
They're discussing changes to this since the Ukraine war began and these changes could be enacted within the next years. The young people currently demonstrating would be directly affected so it's understandable they go to the streets. If all parties needed for a majority agree on the relevant points, things can get moving pretty fast (see the decriminalization of Cannabis for the whole country or the adaption of the access rights of police to enable them to use Gotham in BW ...).
It's also worth to mention that the German military has issues with providing enough equipment for their recruits and there are scandals about abuse, racism and sexism on a regular base. The current government fails to address these issues in a proper and transparent manner but wants to force young people to join anyway.
Mandatory military service is the best option for a democracy in my opinion. It's not for everyone of course.
???
Mandatory military service
It’s not for everyone