Germany's Merz: need European unity to counter US, Russia interference

BERLIN, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Germany's conservative election winner Friedrich Merz said his top priority was to work towards unity in Europe in order to counter interference from the United States or Russia.

He had no illusions about challenges in the relationship with the U.S., Merz said in a panel at broadcasters ARD and ZDF.

"The interventions from Washington were no less dramatic and drastic and ultimately outrageous than the interventions we have seen from Moscow," he said, in reference to support offered by U.S. billionaire Elon Musk to Germany's far right during the election.