Deputies of the United Russia and CPRF Fractions in the State Duma: A Comparative Analysis of Careers after Leaving Office

Abstract

The article analyses careers of the deputies of the United Russia and the Communist Party (CPRF) factions after leaving the State Duma. Empirically, the study bases on the biographical database of the State Duma of the 4th, 5th, and 6th convocations. The study revealed significant inter-factional differences in the deputies’ post-career trajectories. United Russia members are more likely to move to administrative bodies (usually to elite positions) and business (a noticeable minority is part of the national economic elite). Communists more often work in the apparatus of representative bodies and in regional legislatures, election to which remains their main opportunity to maintain power status and belonging to the elite after leaving the State Duma. In general, the post-career of Communist Party deputies has a more pronounced political accent than that of the legislators from United Russia. Factional career differences might probably occur due to the ideology and place of the parties in the political system. In addition, the features of the post-career of the deputies of both parties are largely related to their professional experience before entering the State Duma. Finally, the age of retirement from the State Duma partly explains the career differences between the factions. The work of deputies from United Russia in administrative bodies and commercial organizations after leaving parliamentary positions contributes to the convergence of the party's policy with the interests of these structures. The relative rarity of such transitions among the deputies of the Communist Party, on the contrary, might indicate the autonomization of its policy from the corresponding interests.