Military service will no longer be compulsory for young people. The decision was taken today by PDM. In around two years, all the recruits in the army will be replaced by soldiers, who are employed on a contract. They will also be equipped by international standards.  At the moment, compulsory military service has a term of one year.

Last year, PDM requested the Government to make a survey on this subject and come up with an action plan, to eliminate compulsory military service and transform our national army into a professional one. This was caused by lack of proper conditions for professional training and decent living conditions during the military service, said Vlad Plahotniuc. 

"The way some young people pay a lot of money to avoid military service, resulting only in people who lack financial means being enrolled. This is a grave phenomenon that must be eliminated" Vlad Plahotniuc declared.

This process will take place in stages, for two years, the number of young people and recruits lowering to the points where compulsory military service will be completely eliminated.

According to Vlad Plahotniuc, Defense Ministry will soon launch this complex project, while the first cuts will take place in autumn, the recruits being replaced with soldiers, employed based on a contract. At the same time, Government will solve all logistic and wage issues, so that Moldova will have a modern and well equipped army. At the moment, enrollment in the army takes place two times per year. According to the plan, in 2018, 3700 young people are supposed to perform compulsory military service.