Germany’s armed forces chief has rejected calls for a draft lottery, saying all young men should first be assessed. Meanwhile, police are probing a suspected bomb plot after arresting a man.
Armed forces chief Carsten Breuer has dismissed proposals for a draft lottery, saying all young men should first be assessed to determine eligibility for military service.
Joining an ongoing national debate, he told the RND media group that screening entire age groups was vital to know who could serve.
Breuer argued that a random draw would hurt motivation and training quality.
Meanwhile, German police are continuing their investigation after a 22-year-old Syrian man was arrested and accused of plotting a bomb attack.
Bundesbank chief urges later retirement to sustain prosperity
The president of Germany’s central bank, the Bundesbank, has called for a higher retirement age, warning that Germany’s prosperity cannot be maintained without longer working lives.
“We have to be honest with ourselves, even if it’s uncomfortable,” Joachim Nagel told Table.Briefings. “Germany is an aging society, and we must work longer to preserve the wealth that generations have built since World War II.”
Nagel said competitiveness was at stake, adding that failure to reform could cause Germany and Europe to fall behind. He has repeatedly urged faster structural reforms, including a later pension start.
Despite current weakness, Nagel expressed cautious optimism about the outlook. He said the economy could soon return to moderate growth if government spending on future-oriented investments is well targeted. “We will certainly see more growth next year,” he said.
Germany’s economy remains in its deepest crisis in decades, with only minimal growth expected in 2025 after contractions in 2023 and 2024. Stronger expansion is forecast for 2026, driven by large-scale public spending on infrastructure and defense.
Nagel rejected criticism that the planned fiscal stimulus might be inefficient, saying it was too early to judge.
“The government is aware of its responsibility,” he said, adding that the package’s effects would take time to materialize.
