MOSCOW. Dec 11 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin will take time before answering First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's proposal that he becomes prime minister following the upcoming presidential elections, Efficient Policy Foundation President Gleb Pavlovsky said.

"Putin will keep the situation uncertain, which is positive for Medvedev, for quite a long time. His answer, just as in the case of his consent to head the election ticket of United Russia, will be determined by a number of circumstances, including the presidential elections themselves. The candidate (Medvedev) has yet to win," Pavlovsky told Interfax on Tuesday.

"Putin will have to think twice because such consent will constrain his maneuvers in the future, which he doesn't like," Pavlovsky said.

However, Putin is likely to eventually accept the proposal, Pavlovsky said. "He already said that this was possible at a United Russia congress," he said.

"I don't think that this was an improvised remark on Medvedev's part. I think that Putin will positively assess the proposal to a certain extent after May 2008 (the time when his presidential mandate will expire)," Pavlovsky said.

Pavlovsky also pointed out that Medvedev made the proposal as a presidential candidate. "His steps are logical for a candidate trying to win votes," he said.

Medvedev has quite a good chance to win the elections, Pavlovsky said.