Germany's future chancellor Friedrich Merz promised to vigorously defend Ukraine and democratic values when he presented his new cabinet today, less than a week before taking office in Europe's largest economy.

European unity is "under threat" from Russia's war in Ukraine and the rise of the far right at home, Merz said, appointing a strong supporter of Kyiv, foreign policy expert and former soldier Johann Wazewill as his new foreign minister.

During the CDU party meeting in Berlin, where the coalition agreement with the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) was signed, Merz said that Germany was ready to "once again assume leadership responsibility" in the EU.

The new chancellor is due to take office on May 6, ending six months of political paralysis in Berlin. He stressed that the more than three-year war in Ukraine "is directed against the entire political order of the European continent," AFP reported.

"There must be no doubt where we stand: namely, without any 'ifs' or 'buts', on the side of this attacked country and thus on the side of all people in Europe who are committed to democracy and the rule of law, who are committed to freedom and an open society," Merz stressed.

Referring to the return of US President Donald Trump, but without naming him directly, the CDU leader said that "we have realized that we can no longer be sure of transatlantic relations in the spirit of freedom and a rules-based order."

Merz's CDU/CSU alliance formed a coalition agreement with the SPD of outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz after winning the February 23 elections, in which the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party came in second.

Wadeful is expected to play a key role in the new National Security Council, alongside current and likely future Defense Minister Boris Pistorius of the SPD, to promote Berlin's interests in the EU and on the international stage.

The outgoing parliament approved spending worth hundreds of billions of euros to build up Germany's armed forces and infrastructure, as well as to stimulate the economy, which has been shrinking for the past two years in a row. 

Merz acknowledged that there had been a lot of excitement about the upcoming change at the top, but added that "now is not the time for euphoria. The foundations on which we have relied in recent years and decades are shaking around us."

"Trust in our democracy has been damaged as never before in our country's post-war history. (Europe) is threatened from outside by an imperialist, authoritarian war in the east, and also by frightened, insecure and even radicalized citizens within its borders," he said.

"We are also directly threatened by this war and by Russia," said Merz, pointing to acts of sabotage and interference for which Russia is accused, including "systematic disinformation of our population."

The German elections saw a sharp rise in support for the far-right, Moscow-backed AfD. The party finished second with over 20% of the vote.

Merz noted that his goal remains to once again make the AfD a "marginal phenomenon," including by curbing illegal immigration and removing "pull factors that still exist in Germany."

But he warned that if the government fails to meet the demands of the majority of voters, Germany could find itself in a situation where "at some point we may no longer be able to govern."

Merz appointed 54-year-old Alexander Dobrindt, parliamentary leader of the Bavarian CSU, as the new interior minister responsible for immigration and border control.

The post of economy and energy minister will go to 51-year-old Katerina Reiche of the CDU, who recently served as an executive director in the energy sector.

Carsten Wildberger, CEO of the group that owns German electronics stores Saturn and Mediamarkt, will head a new ministry for digitalization and modernization. | BGNES