Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro Undergoes Double Hernia Surgery Amid Legal Battles
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is currently undergoing double hernia surgery at a hospital in Brasilia, as confirmed by his family. Bolsonaro, who has been in the hospital since Wednesday, is serving a 27-year prison sentence for an attempted coup. The surgery, authorized by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, is expected to last about four hours and aims to alleviate the pain caused by his hernia. Bolsonaro has had several surgeries in the past, including one after being stabbed during a campaign rally in 2018.
Despite being in prison, Bolsonaro has access to medical care and legal counsel at the federal police headquarters in Brasilia, where he is held. His family, including his wife Michelle Bolsonaro and sons, have been granted permission to visit him during his hospitalization. His eldest son, Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, announced that his father has appointed him as the presidential candidate for their party in the upcoming election, challenging President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Bolsonaro and his allies were convicted by the Supreme Court for attempting to overthrow Brazil’s democratic system after his election defeat in 2022. The former president was found guilty of leading an armed criminal organization and trying to abolish the democratic rule of law through violent means. Despite the convictions, Bolsonaro maintains his innocence.