General Santos Cruz endorses Lula in Brazilian election campaign

During Wednesday's televised election programming, General Santos Cruz, a former minister under Jair Bolsonaro, endorsed Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Cruz criticized Bolsonaro, describing him as “completely unprepared” and accusing him of “personal cowardice.”

The campaign advertisement specifically targeted undecided right-wing voters by distinguishing between the traditional right and the “extremism” of Bolsonarismo, which Cruz labeled as “fraud.” The segment also emphasized the role of Vice President Geraldo Alckmin to appeal to a broader political spectrum.

Additional figures, including presenter Fátima Bernardes, appeared in the broadcast to frame a vote for Lula and Alckmin as a defense of democracy rather than a strictly partisan choice. This strategic move follows a first round where Lula received approximately 45% of valid votes, trailing Flávio Bolsonaro's 47%.