Nearly 45% of Slovak citizens are in favor of reinstating mandatory military service, according to a survey conducted by Ipsos.
Among supporters of this idea, the largest group consists of voters of the Smer party, led by Prime Minister Robert Fico. Overall, 44.6% of respondents support the introduction of military service for the entire population. According to the survey data, this initiative received the highest level of support among citizens aged 66 and older—55%, while only 37% of young people (aged 15-24) share this view.
Support for the return of military service is most common among voters of the Smer party (56%), as well as supporters of the right-wing “Republic” movement (54%) and the opposition “Slovakia” movement (53%). Mandatory military service existed in Slovakia until 2005. Initially, its duration was 24 months, but since the 1990s, it was gradually reduced to six months.
Similar sentiments are observed in France, where a recent survey showed that 86% of the population supports the return of military service.
