Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro, is set to be discharged from hospital on Friday and moved into temporary house arrest, following a serious illness that left him in intensive care.
The 71-year-old was rushed to hospital two weeks ago with bronchopneumonia while serving a 27-year prison sentence over an attempted coup after losing the 2022 election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Doctors say Bolsonaro is now “clinically stable” after spending more than a week in the ICU. His cardiologist, Brasil Caiado, confirmed that his condition has improved significantly, with only a minor lesion remaining in his left lung.
“We are planning for discharge on Friday,” Caiado told reporters, noting that recovery could take between six weeks and six months due to possible lung scarring.
Brazil’s Supreme Court justice, Alexandre de Moraes, approved a request allowing Bolsonaro to serve 90 days of his sentence at home once discharged. The court will later review whether to extend the arrangement or return him to prison.
Under strict conditions, Bolsonaro must wear an electronic ankle monitor and is barred from using a phone or social media. However, he is permitted visits from family, legal counsel and medical professionals.
Brazil: ex-president Bolsonaro to stand trial on coup charges
This marks a reversal from earlier rulings, when Moraes rejected similar humanitarian requests. Bolsonaro had previously been placed under house arrest but was returned to prison after damaging his electronic monitoring device in what authorities viewed as an escape attempt.
Doctors linked his latest illness to complications from a 2018 stabbing during his presidential campaign—an attack that has led to repeated surgeries and ongoing health issues.
Meanwhile, Bolsonaro has thrown his political weight behind his son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who is emerging as a key conservative contender ahead of October’s presidential election.
Early polls suggest a tight race between Flávio and incumbent Lula, who is seeking a fourth term in office.
