Japan*s ruling coalition collapsed on Friday after its junior partner Komeito quit, raising doubts about whether conservative Sanae Takaichi will become the country*s first female prime minister.

The announcement came less than a week after Takaichi became the Liberal Democratic Party*s fifth leader in as many years, tasked with winning back disaffected voters.

The main reason given by Komeito party chief Tetsuo Saito was what he called the LDP*s failure to tighten rules on the funding of political parties.