Tetsuo Saito, leader of Japan’s Komeito Party, announced his intention to withdraw from the country’s ruling coalition led by the Liberal Democratic Party due to what he considered a failure to eliminate corruption.

This decision by the coalition partner party is a major blow to the Liberal Democrats, who recently chose conservative lawmaker Sanae Takayama as their leader.

Although Takayama could still become Japan’s first female prime minister, Komeito’s withdrawal, supported by Buddhists, will force the Liberal Democrats to find at least one new partner to remain in power.

The ruling party in Japan has already lost its majority in both houses of parliament, and the lower house is scheduled to vote on selecting a new prime minister later this month.

Saito said his party, which has been a coalition partner with the Liberal Democrats for 26 years, raised several concerns during a meeting with party leaders.

These concerns include objections to Takayama’s stance on Japan’s wartime history and her visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, which is viewed as a symbol of the country’s militaristic past.

Among the concerns raised by the withdrawing Komeito leader is Takayama’s hardline position on foreigners, seen as a harsh reaction to the growing numbers of foreign workers and tourists.