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The head of Germany’s military has dismissed suggestions for a draft lottery, stating that all young men should first undergo evaluation. Meanwhile, authorities are investigating a potential bomb plot following the arrest of an individual. Here’s the latest.

The head of the armed forces, Carsten Breuer, has rejected suggestions for a draft lottery, stating that all young men should first be evaluated to check their suitability for military service.

Taking part in an active national discussion, he stated to the RND media group that testing all age groups was essential to determine who was eligible for service.

Breuer claimed that a random selection process could negatively impact motivation and the standard of training.

In the meantime, German authorities are carrying out further inquiries following the arrest of a 22-year-old Syrian individual who is alleged to have planned a bombing incident.

Here are the most recent news updates from Germany on Monday, November 3:

Less than one-third of leadership positions in Germany are held by women.

Female representation in leadership roles across Germany continues to be significantly low, as indicated by data from the Federal Statistical Office, which shows that women occupied 29.1% of executive positions in 2024.

Approximately 1.32 million men and 540,000 women held management roles in 2024, resulting in Germany having a lower percentage of women in leadership positions compared to the EU average of 35.2%. Sweden was at the top of the group with 44.4% of women in such roles, followed by Latvia (43.4%) and Poland (41.8%).

Germany’s share of female managers has barely changed in a decade, rising only 0.1 percentage points since 2014. Over the same period, the EU average increased by 3.4 points, with the largest gains seen in Sweden, Estonia, Cyprus, and Malta.

That means that Germany ranked sixth from bottom among all EU states, trailed only by the Czech Republic, Denmark, Italy, Croatia and Cyprus.

The difference is clear considering Germany’s nearly equal overall employment rate for women and men. Women made up 46.9% of the workforce in 2024 — just above the EU average — but are still underrepresented in leadership positions.

Positions in data management involve company executives, department leaders, and high-level government officials.

German authorities examine proof following an arrest in a bombing conspiracy case

Authorities in Berlin are continuing their investigation for additional evidence following the arrest of a 22-year-old Syrian individual suspected of plotting a bombing.

Prosecutors mentioned that electronic storage devices and additional items taken during inspections at three sites in the city are under examination. “The following stage involves reviewing the electronic data and any remaining evidence,” stated Michael Petzold, a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office.

The individual was taken into custody on Saturday and has been held in pretrial detention since Sunday night, facing charges of planning a significant act of violence that endangers the state. Authorities mentioned that he had acquired components for a homemade explosive or incendiary device, although information regarding a possible target is still uncertain.

A man drew the attention of investigators after posting Islamic State propaganda on social media, such as jihadist songs and religious chants. Prosecutors have also accused him of distributing materials from unconstitutional and terrorist groups.

Rumors that a Berlin Christmas market might have been the intended target remain unverified. Petzold mentioned that the investigation is considering every possible scenario.

The situation has sparked renewed political discussion regarding the deportation of individuals to Syria. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt mentioned his intention to secure a deal with Damascus this year, allowing the return of offenders and those whose asylum requests have been denied. Conservative Christian Democrat politician Günter Krings urged for the rapid deportation of convicted terrorists, stating that those who plot attacks “give up their right to remain.”

The top general of Germany states that every young man should be evaluated for service in the Bundeswehr.

The head of Germany’s military has dismissed the concept of a draft lottery in the current discussion about bringing back compulsory military service, stating that every young man should be evaluated to check if they are suitable.

Senior Inspector Carsten Breuer informed Germany’s RND media outlet that, from a military perspective, it was crucial to examine all age groups. “Only in this way do we find out who is available and whom we might need to mobilize in a defense scenario — one we aim to avoid,” he stated.

Breuer claimed that selecting recruits through a lottery system after screening would result in individuals being chosen randomly instead of based on their willingness, which could reduce the effectiveness of training. If there aren’t enough volunteers, he suggested that the Bundeswehr should instead choose those who are “particularly qualified and motivated,” focusing on abilities like IT skills rather than using random selection.

He mentioned that a voluntary system would probably draw more participants, as long as the service is perceived as significant and attractive.

The German Parliament is currently discussing a new military service law. Disagreements persist within the governing coalition regarding the next actions to take if voluntary recruitment does not satisfy staffing requirements.

Welcome to our coverage

Guten Tagfrom ‘s newsroom in Bonn andDanke Schönfor being with us as the autumn leaves descend outside.

Joining an active discussion, the head of Germany’s military has rejected the notion of employing a lottery system to bring back conscription.

Chief Inspector Carsten Breuer has stated that all young men must first be evaluated for suitability.

Breuer emphasized that screening entire age groups was essential to identify potential candidates for service, in light of a growing concern over the threat posed by Russia.

Click here for this and other recent stories that are being discussed in Germany throughout the day.