The Italian government is divided over Salvini’s plans to reintroduce conscription

6 months ago 26

Lega leader and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini announced his party’s plans to reintroduce universal conscription at the recent Alpini parade in Vicenza, but Fratelli d’Italia Defence Minister Guido Crosetto -who was also present- voiced scepticism over the idea.

“Lega has almost completed the drafting of a bill to reintroduce universal conscription, six months compulsory for boys and girls, in community service, on a regional basis”, said Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini (Lega/ID) on Sunday at the parade of the Alpini, the Italian Army’s specialist mountain infantry.

Italy abolished compulsory conscription in 2004. However, with European governments looking to bolster their defence capabilities in the face of a growing Russian military threat, the possibility of reintroducing conscription is also being discussed in other countries.

According to Salvini, compulsory military service would be an essential form of civic education, allowing individuals to contribute to community service initiatives such as search and rescue, civil protection, first aid, and forest protection.

He stressed the importance of regional service, contrasting it with the previous system, which often required individuals to relocate far from home, disrupting their studies and work.

However, Salvini’s enthusiasm was met with scepticism by Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, who was also present at the event.

Crosetto argued against the reintroduction of universal conscription, arguing that the armed forces require professional expertise rather than serving as a platform for youth education.

“The universal civil service does not concern the armed forces”, he reiterated twice.

Crosetto stressed the military’s role in defending the values of peace and democracy and suggested that any discussion of conscription should focus on civilian rather than military roles.

Echoing Crosetto’s sentiments, Matteo Perego di Cremnago, the Undersecretary of Defence, expressed reservations about the proposal, stating that compulsory military service was neither practical nor a priority.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to meeting the NATO defence spending target of 2% of GDP, stressing the strategic importance of a well-equipped and efficient military for national security.

(Alessia Peretti | Euractiv.it)