Puljak, Ivošević and Kuzmanić resigned after local prosecutorial authorities indicted Ivošević for threatening an editor at the Split-based Slobodna Dalmacija daily, Nikolina Lulić.
Puljak had come under harsh criticism from other politicians and media for not distancing himself from Ivošević even after he was indicted.
Instead, he took many by surprise by opting to stand by his first deputy and go with him and his second deputy, Antonio Kuzmanić, to a snap election.
“To live for Split and not off Split is our motto and I hope we will not encounter political obstructions after citizens give us their votes again,” Puljak told reporters after he and his deputies tendered their resignations.
The mayor had earlier announced that Kuzmanić would continue running the city until the early election, but the Justice and Public Administration Ministry said that it would appoint a commissioner to run the city, meaning that Kuzmanić would not be able to stay in office.
Puljak has now decided to put an end to a possible legal tangle with Kuzmanić resigning together with him and Ivošević.
“With Mr Kuzmanić resigning we have shown that we are putting the city’s interests first, we are not interested in legal manoeuvering,” Puljak said.
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