Storyline: Germany's Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, on Thursday began reviewing a draft law to revise the country's military service model, triggering huge controversy among society. The German federal cabinet in August approved a draft law of military service, introducing measures for mandatory registration and assessment. According to the draft law, Germany's military service will remain voluntary. However, the government can make service compulsory with the approval of the Bundestag, if the security situation deteriorates or if voluntary recruitment proves insufficient. The draft also reintroduces mandatory registration measures. Upon turning 18, all German men will be required to complete an online questionnaire about their willingness and ability to serve in the military. Germany suspended compulsory military service in 2011 and since then, the army (Bundeswehr) has been transformed into a volunteer one. During Thursday's first reading of the bill, the primary debate centered on a proposed lottery system. The conservative CDU/CSU bloc had earlier advocated for mandatory recruitment through a lottery in cases of troop shortages, a measure strongly opposed by the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD). Meanwhile, the Green Party and the Left Party criticized the bill as hasty and lacking consensus, urging the abandonment of any form of compulsory military service. German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Thursday also expressed doubts about the lottery system, saying that the young people's futures could not be decided by lottery. Some people said the potential reform of the military service is due to the influence from the United States and the NATO. "[We need] to educate our children and teenagers, and put money into education, instead of constant rearmament and more investment into military equipment. All this is because of NATO and its leading power the United States. They demand Germany to increase the armed forces," said Sevim Dagdelen, a former member of German Bundestag. Shotlist: Berlin, Germany - Oct 16, 2025: 1. Various of Reichstag building; national flags of Germany; flag of European Union 2. SOUNDBITE (German) Sevim Dagdelen, former member, German Bundestag (): "[We need] to educate our children and teenagers, and put money into education, instead of constant rearmament and more investment into military equipment. All this is because of NATO and its leading power the United States. They demand Germany to increase the armed forces." 3. Various of Paul Lobe House, office building of German Bundestag 4. Various of German Chancellery, traffic 5. Brandenburg Gate, visitors 6. Various of pedestrians, traffic. [Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]