# Santos Cruz opposition to Bolsonarismo > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/santos-cruz-opposition-to-bolsonarismo > Updated: 2026-10-21T20:50:43.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2. General Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz, a former minister under Jair Bolsonaro, has emerged as a critic of the Bolsonarista movement. He initially characterized certain actions within the movement as “vigarice” (scam/fraud) and accused members of seeking foreign influence over Brazilian domestic affairs, which he described as a threat to national sovereignty. Specifically, Cruz criticized the relationship between the Bolsonaro family and Donald Trump, describing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro’s presence at the White House as a “position of a subordinate.” He also condemned politicians wearing “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) hats as a form of “voluntary submission.” In a significant political shift, Cruz later endorsed Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva during a televised election broadcast. He described Bolsonaro as “completely unprepared” and accused him of “personal cowardice,” while distinguishing traditional right-wing politics from the “extremism” of Bolsonarismo. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-21: General Santos Cruz endorses Lula in Brazilian election campaign Former Bolsonaro minister General Santos Cruz endorsed Lula in a televised campaign ad, criticizing Bolsonaro's preparedness and attempting to attract undecided right-wing voters. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/general-santos-cruz-endorses-lula-in-brazilian-election-campaign ### 2026-10-16: General Santos Cruz criticizes Bolsonaro family over U.S. ties Retired General Santos Cruz criticized the Bolsonaro family and allies, accusing them of compromising Brazilian sovereignty through “voluntary submission” to U.S. political interests. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/general-santos-cruz-criticizes-bolsonaro-family-over-us-ties --- Cite as: Santos Cruz opposition to Bolsonarismo. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/santos-cruz-opposition-to-bolsonarismo