Corporate deputies’ groups of representative bodies of local government (on the example of Perm region)

The article is devoted to the study of composition and structure of the deputy corps at local government level in cities and districts of Perm region with developed industrial production. The article presents an analysis of the composition of the deputy corps of representative bodies of local government of four industrial territories: Chusovoy, Lysva, Gubakha and Solikamsk. It shows how big business is involved in local political processes, and what forms of political influence it chooses. Corporate groups within the deputy corps as a way of political participation of big business are considered. The relative diversity of the composition of corporate groups does not allow to compile a generalized “collective portrait” of a corporate deputy but allows us to identify typical candidates and deputies “from the enterprise”. The analysis of professional composition of corporate groups is given: as a rule, they are made of employees of large enterprises, employees of municipal budgetary institutions, representatives of local small businesses. It shows how these groups defend corporate interests in the representative body of local selfgovernment, providing the work with the local agenda and the adoption of formal decisions. Specific examples show how the conflict between a large enterprise and the leadership of municipal government, as well as the competition between several enterprises, change the structure of the deputy corps and the share of corporate deputies in its composition. The lack of independence of deputies who form corporate groups in deputy assemblies is noted.