The new Defense Minister, Boris Pistorius, does not believe that the Bundeswehr’s financial needs are covered by the €100 billion special fund set up last year. “The 100 billion euros will not be enough,” said the SPD politician to the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”.
“We have new maintenance costs with every new system. With every new device, new and higher running costs arise.”
When asked whether the regular budget of around 50 billion euros a year could then remain, Pistorius replied: “I don’t assume that that will be enough.”
The so-called special fund in the amount of 100 billion euros to better equip the Bundeswehr was launched by the federal government after the Russian attack on Ukraine.
Pistorius recently announced talks with the armaments industry in order to close gaps in the Bundeswehr as quickly as possible as a result of arms deliveries to Ukraine.
With a view to the recently announced transfer of 14 Leopard 2 tanks, Pistorius told the “SZ”: “Of course we’re on our way to get replacements.” But tanks are not somewhere “on the shelf to take away”.
Pistorius thinks suspending conscription is a mistake
The minister described the suspension of conscription by the black-yellow federal government in 2011 as a mistake. “If you ask me as a civilian, as a citizen, as a politician, I would say it was a mistake to suspend conscription.”
He doesn’t mean that because of today’s situation. “Our parliamentary army belongs in the middle of society. Conscripts used to sit at every second kitchen table. Because of this, too, there was always a connection to civil society.”
But that’s not easy to get back. Now you have to make the Bundeswehr so attractive that good young people are interested in it and apply.
When asked if that was enough, Pistorius said: “If you ask me, born in 1960, what I think of fulfilling a duty, also for the state, then I would always say: Yes!” But he has a problem imposing a duty on younger generations now.
“That’s why I’m reticent. But it should be discussed openly with those it affects, as we are currently seeing an alienation between parts of society and the state,” he added, referring to attacks on firefighters and police officers.
Pistorius took over the office a week ago after his predecessor Christine Lambrecht (also SPD) resigned. (dpa)
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Source: Tagesspiegel
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