A nation-wide agreement would be needed for military service to become mandatory, stated Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini on Wednesday in reaction to comments by Defence Minister Peter Gajdoš. Earlier in the week, Gajdoš noted in an interview for TASR news agency that, as interest in becoming a professional soldier in the Slovak Armed Forces hasn't been very high, the Defence Ministry is entertaining the idea of launching a nation-wide discussion on re-introducing compulsory military service.
"It's such a serious decision that it should be accompanied by a great public discussion and a broad consensus. We need to avoid the possibility that the next government might have a completely different opinion on this matter and might repeal our decision," said Prime Minister Pellegrini. According to Pellegrini, there are currently in Slovakia several generations of young people that have never experienced military service. Slovakia officially abolished compulsory military service in 2005, while during its existence the obligatory length of service changed several times.
Finance Minister Peter Kažimír opines that a possible re-introduction of mandatory military service will depend on how the security situation in Europe and the rest of the world develops. Regarding the choice of professional soldier as an occupation, he says there is enough room in the Defence Ministry's budget to make this profession more attractive.
The Opposition parties Freedom and Solidarity and Ordinary People have rejected any discussion concerning compulsory military service. According to Freedom and Solidarity Vice-chair Ľubomír Galko, Slovakia doesn't need a big army of soldiers who carry out their duties under compulsion. According to him, the Slovak Republic as a NATO member doesn't need a large, demoralised or unrealistic army composed of conscripts taken into service by force. Moreover, he went on to say that various things have been lacking in the Slovak army, including adequate salaries, agreeable social provisions and modern equipment.
