Japan’s ruling coalition broke up on Friday, with junior partner Komeito rebelling against the Liberal Democratic Party’s new hardline leader Sanae Takaichi in a move that casts doubt over her premiership bid. Takaichi, selected by the LDP as its new head in a weekend vote, must win approval in parliament to become Japan’s first female prime minister later this month. While her party holds the largest number of seats, it is short of a majority, and the main opposition party has called for other parties to rally behind an alternative candidate. Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito told party members that the 26-year partnership had broken down over an “inadequate” explanation by the LDP over its handling of a political funding scandal that has dogged the ruling group for years. He said Komeito would not back Takaichi in the parliamentary vote on the next prime minister, originally expected to he held around October 15 but likely to be pushed back by the hiatus.

Full report : Japan’s ruling coalition splits, throwing Takaichi’s PM bid into doubt.