At the end of the party conference, the CDU became passionate again: with a clear majority, the delegates spoke out in favor of the commitment to a "society year". The Junge Union rejects the mandatory year.
At the CDU party conference, the delegates spoke out in favor of introducing a mandatory company year. In the last major debate of the meeting in Hanover, the delegates argued vehemently about whether a social year should be voluntary or compulsory. Party leader Friedrich Merz had already spoken out in favor of volunteering in the run-up to the party congress.
In several contributions, speakers reported on the good experiences they had as young men during their civilian service. "Because we're going to get out of our bubbles," said Hamburg CDU boss Christoph Ploß, who advocated a commitment to the year of society. The deputy Philipp Amthor argued in a similar way for the mandatory variant. "We want distinct positions, clear positions, so we can dare something," he said.
On the other hand, the chairman of the Junge Union, Tilman Kuban, warned against adopting the motion for a mandatory year of society without assuring the willingness of the younger generation that it would affect. If the CDU makes this decision "without first having discussed at eye level, we shouldn't be surprised if the results of the first-time voters don't get better, but worse."
Deputy CDU chairwoman Karin Prien referred to the example of Israel, where young women would serve in the army for two years and young men for three. Her view is "that citizenship establishes not only rights but also duties". Society is falling apart more and more. Prien called for the "courage to demand something from people".
