Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was taken to a hospital in Brasília on Thursday for a double hernia operation that lasted about three and a half hours and ended without complications, his family reported.
Surgery and Medical Clearance
Bolsonaro had been hospitalized since Wednesday after federal police doctors confirmed that he needed the procedure. The surgery was authorized by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who also oversees the former president’s coup trial.
Prison Conditions and Visiting Rights
Bolsonaro is held at the federal police headquarters in Brasília, where his 12-square-meter (around 130-square-foot) room contains a bed, a private bathroom, air conditioning, a television and a desk, authorities said. He has unrestricted access to his doctors and lawyers, but any other visitors must obtain approval from the Supreme Court.
Family and Political Moves
On Wednesday, de Moraes permitted Bolsonaro’s sons to visit him while he remained in the hospital. His wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, is also accompanying him.
Flávio Bolsonaro’s Letter
Early Thursday, Bolsonaro’s eldest son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, told reporters that his father had written a letter appointing him as the Liberal Party’s presidential candidate for next year’s election. The senator read the letter to journalists and his office released a reproduction of it to the media.
Letter Content
“He represents the continuation of the path of prosperity that I began well before becoming president, as I believe we must restore the responsibility of leading Brazil with justice, resolve and loyalty to the aspirations of the Brazilian people,” Bolsonaro said in the handwritten letter, dated Dec. 25.
Political Announcement
Flávio Bolsonaro announced on Dec. 5 that he will challenge President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is seeking a fourth nonconsecutive term, as the candidate of Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party.
Legal Background
Bolsonaro has been serving a 27-year prison sentence since November for an attempted coup. The sentence followed convictions by a panel of Supreme Court justices for attempting to overthrow Brazil’s democratic system after his 2022 election defeat.
Coup Plot Details
The plot included plans to kill Lula, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Justice de Moraes, as well as a plan to encourage an insurrection in early 2023.
Additional Charges
Bolsonaro was also convicted on charges that include leading an armed criminal organization and attempting the violent abolition of the democratic rule of law.
Bolsonaro’s Response
He has denied any wrongdoing in relation to the coup allegations.
Key Takeaways
- Bolsonaro’s double hernia surgery completed in 3½ hours without complications.
- He remains in a 12-square-meter cell at the federal police headquarters while serving a 27-year sentence.
- His eldest son, Flávio, has been named the Liberal Party’s candidate for the 2024 presidential election.
The former president’s medical needs, prison conditions, and ongoing political ambitions continue to dominate headlines as Brazil navigates the aftermath of the 2022 coup attempt and the legal proceedings that followed.
