Ferdinand Casares

Ferdinand Casares NA
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly
In office 11 February 2011 – 12 November 2020
President	Cárlos Tobón
Preceded by	Cárlos Tobón
Succeeded by	Orlin Almansar
Leader of the Conservative Party
In office 3 January 2011 – 12 November 2020
Deputy	Raúl Figueroa
Preceded by	Montero Irisar
Succeeded by	Orlin Almansar
National Assemblyman for Tascay
Incumbent
Assumed office 11 February 2001
Constituency	Tascay-9
Personal details
Born	Ferdinand Mario Casares (1970-09-13) 13 September 1970 Estregal, Carloso
Nationality	Carlosian
Political party	Conservative (1993–present)
Children	3
Alma mater	University of Mostodra
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Accountant
Military service
Allegiance	Carloso
Branch/service	Carlosian Army
Years of service	1987–1989
Battles/wars	Bourgougian Blitz

Ferdinand Mario Casares NA (born 13 September 1970) is a Carlosian politician, accountant and Army veteran. He served as Senior Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party from 11 February 2011 until his resignation on 12 November 2020. Casares has served as a National Assemblyman for Tascay's 9th constituency since 2001.

Casares was elected as leader of the Conservatives in 2011 to replace Montero Irisar, who, in the aftermath of the Corrective Revolution, had led the Conservative Party to what was then considered its worst performance in history, winning only 122 seats and 18.6% of first preference votes in the 2010 general election. Casares immediately began efforts to reform the party and rebuild its structure after being crippled by the huge amount of defections to National Salvation in the weeks in the run-up to the election. Caesares led the Conservative Party to a partial recovery in the 2015 general election, winning 183 seats, though mainly at the expense of the embattled Socialist Republicans and Democratic Party. Casares' refusal to fire Deputy Leader Raúl Figueroa after it was revealed was being investigated by authorities for tax evasion and possession of illegal drugs precipitated another collapse in support for the Conservative Party, winning only 49 seats at the 2020 general election. Casares and Figueroa both resigned from their roles within the party on 12 November 2020.

Politically, Caesares has been described as a centrist and liberal conservative. He has expressed his openness to the relaxation of abortion laws and recognition of same-sex civil partnerships. He also opposes capital punishment. He has been a sharp critic of President Cárlos Tobón, and marketed himself to the electorate as the best person to unseat him from power. He describes himself as Catholic.