Macron prepares France for war, says country’s press

30 years ago, the end of the Cold War made military service obsolete in France, which was no longer mandatory, recalls the newspaper Le Figaro. “The war on Europe’s borders put an end to that interval. History became tragic again – but, at some point, did it stop being so?”, asks the daily, when defending the measure.

Strict selection

The theme is also on the cover of Libération. Ten thousand young people must be trained for the basics of military action in five years. The newspaper highlights that the selection for vacancies will be rigorous: only students with the best grades and “proven skills in technology” should be recruited, at this first stage.

The service will serve as a “gap year” before higher education. He will be remunerated with a minimum of ? 800 per month, in addition to accommodation, food and equipment, according to the Élysée Palace.

Due to budget constraints, the program will be implemented gradually: in the first year, starting in January 2026, 3,000 young people are expected to join. The expectation is that, in 2035, 42,500 will participate in the program.

The necessary financing, of 2.3 billion for the period from 2026 to 2030, is provided for in the update of the military programming law proposed by Emmanuel Macron, which has not yet been approved. This budgetary effort is “essential”, argued the French president.