Former Brazilian President Bolsonaro’s hernia surgery ‘successful’

Jailed former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has successfully undergone surgery for a double hernia, his wife Michelle said.

The former leader is serving a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup after losing the 2022 presidential election to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Brazil’s Supreme Court authorized the transfer of the 70-year-old from the federal police headquarters room where he is serving his sentence to a hospital in the capital, Brasilia, to undergo the procedure.

Before the operation, Jair Bolsonaro supported the candidacy of his eldest son, Flávio, for the 2026 presidential election.

The former president made his decision known in a handwritten letter that was read by Flávio Bolsonaro outside the hospital where his father is being treated.

“During my life, I have fought difficult battles, paying a high price for my health and my family, to defend what I believe is best for our country,” Bolsonaro wrote.

“I entrust the most important thing in a father’s life: my own son, for the mission of saving our country, Brazil.”

Flávio Bolsonaro, a 44-year-old senator, had already announced his decision to run for president of his father’s Liberal Party.

Earlier this month, he said his father had entrusted him with “the mission of continuing our national project.” But Jair Bolsonaro’s letter, published by Brazilian media, confirms that the senator benefits from the support of his father.

The outgoing president, Lula, has already announced his intention to run again in the presidential election scheduled for October 2026.

In 2022, the presidential election went to a second round, in which the older Bolsonaro faced ex-President Lula.

When Lula narrowly won, Jair Bolsonaro refused to accept the result and conspired with senior military officials to prevent Lula from taking office.

Although the plot failed to gain enough support from the military to move forward, it nonetheless resulted in the storming of government buildings by Bolsonaro supporters on January 8, 2023.

Bolsonaro was convicted of conspiracy and sentenced in September this year.

Despite the guilty verdict, the older Bolsonaro still wields considerable political influence.

Brazil’s Congress passed a bill last week to significantly reduce Bolsonaro’s sentence, but President Lula said he would veto it.

Jair Bolsonaro should be transferred again to the federal police headquarters as soon as the doctors give the green light.