Tommy Suharto, the controversial son of former dictator Suharto, is free to contest the chairmanship of Golkar, party deputy general chairman Agung Laksono said on Friday.

Laksono, the speaker of the House of Representatives, said the party had no restrictions on its members nominating themselves for Golkar's chairmanship, contradicting previous party statements that prospective candidates had to have held a leadership role in the former ruling party for the last five years.

"However," Laksono said, "the success of a candidate will be determined by how big the support he or she can secure from the Golkar regional branches."

Laksono said that besides the support of the regions, a candidate would also be judged on their activities within the party.

"The higher intensity of his or her activities within the party, the bigger opportunity a candidate will have to be elected as chairperson," he said, commenting on the intentions of Hutomo Mandala Putra, Tommy's formal name, to run in the Golkar general chairmanship race.

Therefore, he said, Tommy's nomination would be better if not done immediately but in times to come.

"Many many have suggested that Tommy should not nominate himself for the time being but first become a member of the executive board. After all, he is still young and has a long journey ahead."

Laksono said the presence of Tommy proved that Golkar had enough quality cadres, who could take their place on the national stage.

Tommy was convicted in 2002 of ordering the murder of Supreme Court Justice Syafiuddin Kartasasmita after the judge found him guilty on corruption charges. The corruption conviction was later overturned.

After being absent from the political field for 10 years, Tommy said he felt called to return to Golkar. "Until now I am still a Golkar Party member and I still have a membership card," he said. Tommy, born in 1962, said that elite party members had approached him some time ago to return to help develop the party.