Thailand's Foreign Ministry has not always played the leading role in foreign policy formulation or implementation except during the so-called "golden age" of the Foreign Ministry. Under the leadership of air Marshal Siddhi Savetsila in the 1980s, the Foreign Ministry presided over foreign policy-making in co-ordination with the military and other security agencies. The withdrawal of the military from politics after 1992 did not bring about better foreign policy formulation. For a period of about five years after 1992, there was rapid succession of coalition governments and, consequently, frequent changes of foreign ministers. Inter-party manoeuvrings threatened government survival and did not allow for long-term strategic thinking. Coalition governments also meant that Cabinet portfolios were distributed on a quota system, and the foreign ministry was, without exception, of low priority. This also resulted in most foreign ministers either lacking an interest or having no experience in foreign affairs. Foreign policy thus suffered from discontinuity and often served the party interests of the serving minister.