Angela Merkel

Dear Editor, Am sure your readers woh will keen to perus the article Yours sincerely, Edward/Eddie Hwang. Angela Merkel's political heir 'may bring back' national service By Justin Huggler -7th Aagust 2018 Share on Twitter Send via Email Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text size 0 Leave a comment Berlin: There were calls for a referendum in Germany on Monday after Angela Merkel's likely successor said that she was ready to consider the return of national service. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, who is widely seen as Merkel's designated heir, surprised Germany last week when she said she was open to "very intense" discussion. Angela Merkel, Germany's chancellor and Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader, left, and Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, general secretary of the Christian Democrat Union (CDU). Angela Merkel, Germany's chancellor and Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader, left, and Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, general secretary of the Christian Democrat Union (CDU). Photo: Bloomberg Opinion polls showed more than 55 per cent of Germans support the reintroduction of conscription. But a spokesman for Merkel's government made clear that a return to compulsory military service was out of the question. Instead calls are mounting for a scheme under which young people could choose between a year's military service or some form of social service. Germany ended conscription in 2011 in favour of a professional army but has been struggling to recruit troops in recent years. German Bundeswehr soldiers German Bundeswehr soldiers Photo: AP Troop shortages have become so severe that the ministry of defence recently said it was considering recruiting citizens of other EU countries to make up the shortfall. While a referendum is unlikely, given strict restrictions in the German constitution, a poll released this month found that 55.6 per cent of Germans are in favour of a return to military conscription, while only 39.6 per cent are against. The only party that has come out fully in favour of a return to conscription is the nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD) and there has been speculation that Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer was trying to entice AfD voters back to the CDU by reopening the debate on national service. Telegraph, LondonA