What speaks politically against conscription for women in Austria – Diepresse.com

The lack of personnel in the army system at the European continent is evident, not least also in Austria. In the coming months, a commission should also deal with the question of how and what new staff could be recruited for the Bundesheer to develop a reform of compulsory military service.

The acute lack of personnel was made by Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP) In recent years, primarily addressed with financial incentives. In addition, women can voluntarily do basic military service since April 1, 2023. So far, around 400 women have registered. In the future, she also stimulated the president Erich Ciculka in the « press » on Tuesday. He speaks for a compulsory military service for women and refers to Scandinavian role models.

Scandinavia « further than we do »

In principle, Cibulka speaks for a reform of compulsory military service or the basic military service. He wants to reintroduce the obligation to exercise: « Six months of basic military service plus zero months exercise are not enough, » he says. A return to six plus two « as in the time of the Cold War » is more obvious. For him, an « equal treatment of military and civilian service » or a duty of duty is also conceivable for everyone. If you are suitable, man or woman, you have to do one or the other.

So will Austrian women soon be called for position? If you ask ÖVP Minister Tanner and the remaining parliamentary parties that would be necessary to achieve a constitutional change, the answer is clearly: no-at least for the near future.

« A compulsory conscription for women is not intended in the current government program, » says when asked from Tanner’s office. With the basic military service that has been introduced for women since April 1, 2023, an “important step” was taken. The fact that almost 500 have reported voluntarily since then shows that women are « ready » to « take responsibility with the Bundesheer ». Apart from that, according to the Federal Army website, 810 soldiers at the Bundesheer are currently used. For comparison: the entire troop thickness, at least on paper, amounts to around 55,000.

Tanner, however, refers to the unequal position of women: « In many areas of life, women are still not equal. Before we talk about new obligations, we have to work on the existing inequalities and ensure real equality. Especially the popular Scandinavian countries are much further than we do when equality between women and men. »

Greens speak of « farce »

For the coalition partner SPÖ, this is « not an issue ». Women did « the far vast majority » of unpaid work, according to the SPÖ club. In order to increase the proportion of women at the army – it is currently five percent – the government program provides for an « extensive package ». The NEOS refer to the commission of conscription and do not want to anticipate it. In principle, however, « models that are based on voluntariness or professional armies are considered in the long term, » becomes a defense spokesman Douglas Hoyos cited in a broadcast.

From a green perspective, comparisons with Scandinavia are currently inadmissible. « These comparisons are huge, » says defense spokesman David Stögmüller. « Without real progress in equality », the debate about military service for women is a « farce ». In the long term, however, one could think about the Swedish model, in which recruitment after suitability and motivation, regardless of gender. This could strengthen the militia in the long term.

From the FPÖ club it is said that women in the Armed Forces are « fundamentally positive ». However, defense spokesman says Volker Reifenberger. He also refers to a lack of equality between men and women in « many other areas of life ». Like officer President Cibulka, Reifenberger also speaks for longer basic military service and mandatory militia exercises.