Far right fails in bid to gag German president

BERLIN (AP) Germany's top court has dismissed a far-right party's bid to gag the country's president.

The National Democratic Party had requested an emergency injunction to stop President Joachim Gauck from criticizing the party ahead of Sunday's general election.

The party cited an event in August at which Gauck had praised anti-Nazi activists who defended a refugee center against far-right protesters he described as "crazies."

But the Federal Constitutional Court said Tuesday that Gauck was aware his post is meant to be above party politics and therefore no legal action was necessary.