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Scotland’s pro-independence leader, Humza Yousaf, resigned Monday after he broke a coalition agreement with the Green Party over climate action targets, Sky News reported.

The Scottish first minister said over the weekend he would not step down. But two no-confidence motions brought by the opposition and the Greens forced his hand.

Yousaf’s resignation comes amid hard times for his Scottish National Party (SNP), which has ruled Scotland for nearly two decades, and ahead of a general election in the UK later this year.

It also marked the culmination of a political drama that began last week when Yousaf decided to abandon a three-year power-sharing deal with the Green Party. The SNP and the Greens, both in favor of Scotland’s independence from the UK, split over emissions targets.

The outgoing first minister said the goal of reducing emissions by 75 percent before 2030 was “beyond what we are able to achieve,” angering his coalition partners, Euronews reported.

In March 2023, Yousaf became the first person of Asian descent to lead Scotland, and one of four minorities across the UK in top political leadership positions including the prime minister.