A new nationwide survey indicates that a majority of Poles now support reinstating mandatory military service, reflecting shifting public attitudes as security anxieties intensify across Eastern Europe. The poll, conducted by United Surveys for the news portal Wirtualna Polska, found that nearly 60 percent of respondents favor the return of compulsory service, a policy Poland abolished in 2009 during a period of relative geopolitical calm.
The results underscore how Russia’s war in Ukraine, growing military tensions in the region, and debates over NATO readiness have reshaped perceptions of national defense. Only 31 percent of respondents opposed the idea, while the remaining share expressed uncertainty. The survey was carried out between November 21 and 23, 2025, among a representative sample of 1,000 adults.
Support for reinstating conscription varied significantly across political lines. Among voters of the governing coalition, roughly half backed the proposal. Enthusiasm was notably higher among supporters of the conservative opposition parties Law and Justice (PiS) and Confederation, where about two-thirds favored the policy. Across both groups, around 10 percent remained undecided, suggesting that the issue continues to evolve within Poland’s political landscape.
The findings arrive at a time when many European countries are reassessing defense strategies. Nations such as Sweden, Latvia, and Lithuania have already revived or expanded conscription in response to perceived threats along NATO’s eastern flank. Analysts say Poland—already one of the alliance’s biggest spenders on defense—faces strategic questions about manpower, readiness, and long-term deterrence.
Poland’s professional army has grown substantially in recent years, and the government has pursued ambitious modernization plans, including purchases of South Korean tanks, U.S. fighter jets, and missile defense systems. Still, some security experts argue that reinstating compulsory service could strengthen societal resilience and expand the pool of trained reservists. Critics counter that conscription is costly, socially disruptive, and less efficient than investments in advanced technology and voluntary forces.
The debate is likely to intensify as Poland positions itself as a key security actor within NATO and a frontline state bordering both Ukraine and Belarus. Whether public support translates into actual legislative change remains unclear, but the poll highlights an emerging trend: in a region where geopolitical threats feel increasingly immediate, compulsory service—once seen as a relic of the past—is reentering mainstream political conversation.