President Emmanuel Macron said he will announce a new military service aimed at boosting French army numbers later this week.
Details are scant, but according to French media the scheme would be voluntary, remunerated, and last for 10 months.
In an interview with local media, he sought to reassure the French public that the plan did not mean young people would be sent to fight in Ukraine. We really need to, right now, dispel any misconception that we're going to send our young people to Ukraine, he stated. That's not at all what this is about.
However, Macron noted that the new framework was meant to address the desire for service among the youth and to confront the hybrid confrontation waged by Russia. If we French want to protect ourselves... we must show that we are not weak in the face of one power that threatens us the most, he emphasized.
He stressed the importance of understanding the role and operations of the armed forces, stating that it is essential for as many citizens as possible to be aware.
No official details on the new military service have been released yet, but Macron is expected to elaborate during a visit to an army base on Thursday. Reports suggest that volunteers will be compensated between €900 (£790) and €1000 (£880) monthly.
Conscription in France was abolished in 1996, with the current national service including just two weeks of training, followed by two weeks of community service, introduced in 2019 but failing to gain traction.
Political reactions include backing from Raphaël Glucksmann of the Place Publique party, who advocated for a universal service, while Sébastien Chenu from the National Rally called for a mandatory three-month military service for all young citizens.
The renewed focus on military service aligns with a growing trend in several European countries, prompted by security concerns stemming from Russia's actions.
