France may soon introduce voluntary military service, President Emmanuel Macron indicated at the G20 summit—as tensions rise near Europe’s borders. The program, under discussion for several months, could be announced as early as Thursday, November 27th.
National service would last around 10 months and pay participants. Estimates suggest between 10,000 and 50,000 young people could take part each year, contributing to national resilience and forming a pool of personnel ready for mobilization in a crisis.
While the initiative has received support from some political figures, others remain cautious, emphasizing the importance of a professional military.
For the right-wing Rassemblement National, Jordan Bardella posted on X, formerly Twitter:
I am in favor of restoring national service in the form of a military service. Its suspension by President Chirac was a mistake.
Macron stressed that France must remain a strong nation with a capable army and a society prepared to respond collectively to threats. The proposal comes amid growing controversy over comments by top French military officials. Last week, General Fabien Mandon sparked a political storm after saying that France must be prepared to “lose its children” if Russia becomes a greater threat.
