The importance of Thailand’s political stability during this period must also be emphasized. Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda was in power from March 1980 until July 1988. This was the longest parliamentary premiership in Thai history, which gave an air of continuity, robustness and stability rare in Thai politics. Overall, during this period both the economic and political situations changed radically. Thailand became regarded as politically and economically stable and an investment “hot spot.” Thailand was able to take advantage of a clustering of favorable global, regional, and national circumstances (Dixon 1999, 126-128). Prime Minister Prem stepped down in July 1988 and Chatichai Chunhavan became Prime Minister from then until February 1991 when he was sacked in a coup organized by General Suchinda Kraprayun.