Now that Ichiro Ozawa has made it official and will run for president of the Democratic Party of Japan, a key question is whether he can be indicted over his alleged financial illegalities should he win and become prime minister.
Ozawa is facing an automatic indictment if an official judicial review panel, called the Committee for the Inquest of Prosecution, concludes for the second time that he should be charged with falsifying his political fund records. The long-running scandal has already seen three of Ozawa's former aides indicted.
Experts are divided over how to interpret the relevant article in the Constitution on whether a Prime Minister Ozawa could be indicted, but basically agree that unless he consents, a prime minister can't face criminal charges while serving the post.