German students protest military conscription plans as parliament considers fuel tax cuts

Over 100 protests are expected across Germany as students push back on what they believe to be government's efforts to reintroduce military conscription.

The idea has been floated by senior politicians, including a former defense minister and the current premier of Bavaria earlier this month.

Germany has seen several waves of protests against the idea in recent years.

Germany agrees on conscription framework

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The immediate trigger for the school strike on Friday, however, is the military testing drive for young men in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein. According to protest organizers, authorities are calling for men born in 2008 to be tested even if they have previously declared no interest in serving in the military.

A spokeswoman for the German Defense Ministry confirmed that the examination is mandatory regardless of the teenagers' stated preferences, though the policy has not yet been implemented all over the country.

Germany suspended mandatory military conscription in 2011.

With oil prices still high on global markets, the German government is cutting the tax on gas and diesel at the gas station, with the move expected to pass the federal parliament later on Friday.

In order to save time, the government has attached the legal changes to a different law. If the measure is passed, it will save German drivers up to 16.7 euro cents per liter (about $0.72 per US gallon) from October 1.

The ADAC motoring association reported that average gas prices in Germany hit a record high last week, reaching €2.308 for a liter of super E10 unleaded and €2.471 for a liter of diesel ($9.98/US gallon and $10.69/US gallon, respectively).

Gas stations are not obligated to pass the full savings to the customers. However, a similar tax cut introduced earlier this year showed a strong effect on gas prices in May and June.

The measure is expected to stay in effect until the end of the year.

A schönen guten Morgen from DW's news team in Bonn! It is indeed a beautiful, sunny morning in Germany, and good news may be coming — at least for drivers looking to save money at the gas station.

Later today, the country's parliament will vote on a tax cut that should save customers up to 16.7 euro cents per liter (about $0.72 per US gallon), due to go into effect on October 1.

In more somber news, many schools across the country are expected to protest against what they see as the government's push to bring back military conscription.

We will be bringing you updates on these and other top news stories from Germany throughout the day.