Savisaar himself has announced that he wants to be a candidate, with the reservation that his health might keep him from running. Savisaar last ran in Tallinn’s Lasnamäe borough, where he broke the record in terms of the number of personal votes.

The health of the former long-time chairman of the Center Party could indeed be an issue, as his lawyer, Oliver Nääs, recently petitioned that the Harju County court suspend Savisaar’s trial on grounds of his physical condition. Savisaar is facing charges for money laundering, graft, embezzlement, and accepting illegal political donations.

Reps said in Vikerraadio’s “Samost ja Rumm” on Sunday that any candidacy of Savisaar’s would indicate his decision to continue with the trial. “He can’t claim that he’s unable to leave the house and appear in court and at the same time say that he’s politically active and running,” Reps said.

Savisaar as a “political dinosaur” was having a hard time to completely give up politics, Reps suggested. “But it’s pretty likely that he won’t run in Lasnamäe or anywhere else this autumn, at least I would bet on that,” Reps said.