French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday clarified that a new voluntary military national service would not involve sending young people to Ukraine.
“We must really, at least for now, dispel any confusion that we are going to send our young people to Ukraine. That is not at all what this is about,” said Macron in an interview with French radio station RTL.
Macron is set to present the new military service, which stops short of conscription, on Thursday against the background of the threat posed by Russia.
The French president confirmed that on Thursday he would specify “the transformation of universal national service into a new form,” without providing further details.
Macron is set to visit the Varces army base in southeastern France, from where he will announce a “new framework for serving in our armed forces” and respond to the “desire for engagement” among young people.
“It is very clear that we must strengthen the army-nation pact,” he told RTL.
France lacks the ‘spirit’ to face up to threat
Macron’s assurances came days after a furor erupted over a top French top general’s comments that the country must be ready to "lose its children" as the Ukraine war rages.
Chief of the Defence Staff General Fabien Mandon said in a speech to local mayors last week that, while France has the economic and demographic power to defeat Moscow, it lacked the "spirit" in society to stand up to the menace.
"If our country falters because it is not prepared to accept – let's be honest – to lose its children, to suffer economically because defence production will take precedence, then we are at risk," he added.
Read moreFrance's top general under fire after saying country must be 'prepared to lose children'
A modest plan
The idea of a new national service plan has been floated in France over the past few months. It comes as similar service plans have been discussed in other EU countries such as Germany and Poland.
The new French plans is expected to start modestly, with 2,000 to 3,000 people in the first year, before “ramping up” with a long-term goal of 50,000 per year, according to media reports.
The planned duration would be 10 months and volunteers will paid for their service, according to media reports.
Military service was compulsory in France for nearly two centuries until it was abolished in 1997 by then president Jacques Chirac to make way for a professional army.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
English (US) · 