2023-11-05 12:02:22
Should we reinstate military service for “some” or “all of the youth”? This question could arise “soon”, said former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe on Sunday on Radio J, because “we live in a dangerous world”.
“President Chirac considered that it was necessary to move to a completely professional army to defend France’s interests, and I think he was right at that time. Will this always be the case,” asked the boss of the Horizons party.
“Will one day, to preserve the interests of France, its security, it will not be necessary to train – and train militarily, otherwise it makes no sense – a part of the youth, even all the youth, it This is a question that may be asked. As we live in a dangerous world, I tend to think that it will be asked soon,” he adds, slipping in that this theme will “perhaps” be in the debates that will shake up the next presidential election, for for which he is a putative candidate.
He “loved” his service
Édouard Philippe, who emphasizes having “loved” his own time in military service, said he did not believe that it was necessary to “reestablish military service to resolve social issues”. “But I am willing to hear those who say: it will be necessary to reestablish a military service because the requirements of territorial defense require it,” he insisted.
If Emmanuel Macron did not want to return to military service, he had promised in 2017 the establishment of a universal national service (SNU), launched in 2019, and which includes a social “stay of cohesion” and a “mission of general interest” of 12 days. For the moment it only concerns young volunteers, and its generalization faces strong resistance.
The SNU will be integrated into school time from March 2024, with a 12-day internship for second-year students who volunteer.
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