The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, stated on Tuesday that the potential reinstatement of voluntary military service in the country would not mean sending young people to Ukraine, attempting to dispel the 'misleading' idea that new recruits would be sent to the front.
As reported by DW, to which the Noticias Argentina Agency gained access, the new conscription system is expected to be officially announced on Thursday, following the line of other European countries in the face of the growing threat they see from Russia and doubts about their American ally.
Macron has been for months warning about the need for France to strengthen its armed forces amid the growing external threat, especially from Russia.
While the government has not yet detailed the modalities, according to several media outlets, the planned duration would be 10 months and would be remunerated with several hundred euros.
France suspended compulsory military service in 1997, during the presidency of conservative Jacques Chirac.
The French Armed Forces have approximately 200,000 active-duty military personnel and 47,000 reservists, and the goal is to have 210,000 and 80,000 people, respectively, by 2030.
"That's not it at all," Macron affirmed in an interview with RTL radio and M6 television.
This came after the Chief of Staff, General Fabien Mandon, called on the French to "accept losing their children" in case of conflicts in Europe, words that the French president claimed were "taken out of context".
On Thursday, the head of state will visit the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade (BIM) in Varces (Isère, southeast) to announce a "new framework for service" in the armed forces and to respond to the "desire for commitment" among the youth.
The president stated that on that day he would clarify "the transformation of universal national service into a new form," without offering more details, and refused to confirm if he will announce the implementation of a voluntary military service.
According to various sources, the objective of the change, which the local press considers a done deal, is to start with around 2,000 people within a voluntary service framework, and to gradually reach some 50,000 volunteers per year.
According to experts, the measure would also allow for "reinforcing social cohesion".
The Minister Delegate for Defense, Alice Rufo, acknowledged last Sunday on France Info radio that work is being done on the creation of such a service, although no concrete decisions have been made yet.
"We really need, at least for now, to dispel any misleading idea that we are going to send our young people to Ukraine."
