Bolsonaro Undergoes Successful Surgery While Supporting Son's Presidential Bid
Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, aged 70, underwent a successful double hernia surgery at a hospital in Brasília after the Supreme Court approved his transfer from the federal police headquarters where he is currently jailed. Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup following his 2022 election loss to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Prior to the surgery, Bolsonaro endorsed his eldest son Flávio Bolsonaro's 2026 presidential campaign. Flávio, a 44-year-old senator affiliated with his father's Liberal Party, had already announced his intention to run for president. Bolsonaro's handwritten letter, read aloud by Flávio outside the hospital, conveyed his support for his son's mission to "rescue Brazil."
Lula, who defeated Bolsonaro in the 2022 runoff and plans to run again in October 2026, faced refusal by Bolsonaro to accept the election result and subsequent coup plotting with top military officials. This plot led to the storming of government buildings on 8 January 2023.
In September, Bolsonaro was found guilty for his role in the coup attempt. Following this, Congress passed a bill to shorten his prison sentence, a measure President Lula has stated he will veto. Bolsonaro is expected to be transferred back to the federal police headquarters once medically cleared by doctors.
