Party leader admits to assault, "quits as MP"

BELGRADE League of Vojvodina Social-Democrats (LSV) leader and MP Nenad Canak has admitted to assaulting a man in front of a Novi Sad tavern over the weekend. He made the announcement at the Serbian parliament building in Belgrade, when he also said he had "resigned as MP". Party leader admits to assault, "quits as MP" "If I should choose between the tears of my children and the mandate of the people's deputy, there that's no choice at all," he was quoted as saying. He then admitted to assaulting Pavle Lesanovic in the parking lot in front of the tavern, and specified he had hit the victim "with his fists". Before the incident Lesanovic, Canak continued, referred to him as a "thief", and also "touched his niece as if she were the last prostitute". "When I saw the tears in the eyes of my daughter - and I consider my brother's daughter to be my own - I went back and encountered the troublemaker who was sitting in his BWM car. He then cursed my children, to which I reacted by dragging him out of the car and beating him with my fists," Canak detailed the assault. The LSV leader also said that he arrived at the establishment when his niece invited him, and that Lesanovic "attacked him verbally as soon as he was in the door, calling him a thief". Lesanovic then, according to Canak, approached their table "and started to grope" the woman. He also "poured water on the musicians", reproaching them for playing for Canak, whom he allegedly referred to as a "pig". "Based on the daily death threats, two years ago I asked for MUP security, but it has not been assigned to me," Canak continued, and added that he "wished to resign (as MP)", but that his resignation letter had not been accepted because it lacked a court stamp. He then proceeded to scrunch up and throw away his resignation letter in front of the gathered MPs and reporters. Canak also accused the Serbian parliament of "not protecting him", while acting as "a safe house for war criminals", and mentioned Ratko Mladic and Miladin Kovacevic in this context. Earlier, Canak took to his Facebook account to say that he "did not assault anyone", and that he was acting "to protect his niece". Pavle Lesanovic accused Canak and his bodyguards of attacking and battering him early on Sunday in Novi Sad. (Beta) Resignation explained Also on Tuesday, the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Administrative and Immunity Issues, Zoran Babic, explained the current status of the resignation of Nenad Canak. In order for the committee to accept it, it must be properly certified by a court, Babic noted. The resignation letter submitted to the parliament clerk's office today therefore "means nothing", he said, and added: "For that reason, the resignation of Canak is, as far as I and other members of the committee are concerned, legally invisible." According to the law, an MP who wishes to resign must personally submit their resignation to the parliament speaker, within three days of the document's court certification. B92

Party leader admits to assault, "quits as MP"

"If I should choose between the tears of my children and the mandate of the people's deputy, there that's no choice at all," he was quoted as saying.

He then admitted to assaulting Pavle Lešanović in the parking lot in front of the tavern, and specified he had hit the victim "with his fists".

Before the incident Lešanović, Čanak continued, referred to him as a "thief", and also "touched his niece as if she were the last prostitute".

"When I saw the tears in the eyes of my daughter - and I consider my brother's daughter to be my own - I went back and encountered the troublemaker who was sitting in his BWM car. He then cursed my children, to which I reacted by dragging him out of the car and beating him with my fists," Čanak detailed the assault.

The LSV leader also said that he arrived at the establishment when his niece invited him, and that Lešanović "attacked him verbally as soon as he was in the door, calling him a thief". Lešanović then, according to Čanak, approached their table "and started to grope" the woman.

He also "poured water on the musicians", reproaching them for playing for Čanak, whom he allegedly referred to as a "pig".

"Based on the daily death threats, two years ago I asked for MUP security, but it has not been assigned to me," Čanak continued, and added that he "wished to resign (as MP)", but that his resignation letter had not been accepted because it lacked a court stamp.

He then proceeded to scrunch up and throw away his resignation letter in front of the gathered MPs and reporters.

Čanak also accused the Serbian parliament of "not protecting him", while acting as "a safe house for war criminals", and mentioned Ratko Mladić and Miladin Kovačević in this context.

Earlier, Čanak took to his Facebook account to say that he "did not assault anyone", and that he was acting "to protect his niece".

Pavle Lešanović accused Čanak and his bodyguards of attacking and battering him early on Sunday in Novi Sad.

Resignation explained

Also on Tuesday, the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Administrative and Immunity Issues, Zoran Babić, explained the current status of the resignation of Nenad Čanak.

In order for the committee to accept it, it must be properly certified by a court, Babić noted.

The resignation letter submitted to the parliament clerk's office today therefore "means nothing", he said, and added:

"For that reason, the resignation of Čanak is, as far as I and other members of the committee are concerned, legally invisible."

According to the law, an MP who wishes to resign must personally submit their resignation to the parliament speaker, within three days of the document's court certification.