Japan in political crisis as coalition collapses

TOKYO, Oct 10 (AFP): Japan's ruling coalition collapsed Friday as junior partner Komeito quit the alliance, putting in peril Sanae Takaichi's bid to become the country's first woman prime minister.

Takaichi became head of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) less than a week ago and had been expected to be approved by parliament as premier this month.

But Komeito's decision to end the alliance that has governed Japan almost uninterrupted for 25 years sank Japan into a new political crisis.

"We want the LDP-Komeito coalition to go back to the drawing board for now and bring an end to our relationship," Komeito party chief Tetsuo Saito told reporters after talks with the LDP.

"Given that we have not received clear and concrete cooperation from the LDP regarding our demands, and if these reforms prove impossible to achieve, I said (in the meeting) that it would be utterly impossible for us to write Sanae Takaichi's name in the nomination," he said.

In particular Saito told Takaichi that her answers on the LDP's recent slush fund scandal were unsatisfactory, media reports said.

Saito said however that Komeito would still support budget plans and other legislation that the two parties have prepared.

Takaichi said the coalition's collapse was "extremely regrettable" and that their decision to exit the alliance was "unilateral".