Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s hernia surgery ‘successful’

Imprisoned former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has successfully undergone double hernia surgery, his wife Michelle said.

The former leader was sentenced to 27 years in prison for plotting a coup after losing the 2022 presidential election to left-wing rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Brazil’s Supreme Court approved the transfer of the 70-year-old man from his prison cell at the federal police headquarters to a hospital in the capital Brasilia for surgery.

Before the surgery, Jair Bolsonaro endorsed his eldest son Flávio’s 2026 presidential bid.

The former president announced his decision in a handwritten letter, which Flavio Bolsonaro read outside the hospital where his father was being treated.

“Throughout my life I have fought hard and paid a high price with my health and my family to defend what I believed was best for our country,” Bolsonaro wrote.

“In my mission to save our country, Brazil, I gave my father the most important thing in his life – my own son.”

Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, 44, has announced his decision to run for president for his father’s Liberal Party.

Earlier this month, he said his father had entrusted him with “continuing our national project.” But a letter from Jair Bolsonaro published by Brazilian media confirmed the senator has the support of his father.

Current President Lula has announced plans to run again in the presidential election scheduled for October 2026.

In 2022, the presidential election will enter a runoff, with the elder Bolsonaro competing against former President Lula.

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

Although the plot failed to gain sufficient support from the military, it eventually led to Bolsonaro’s supporters attacking government buildings on January 8, 2023.

Bolsonaro was found guilty of a coup in September and sentenced.

Despite his conviction, the elder Bolsonaro still wields considerable political influence.

Brazil’s Congress last week passed a bill that would significantly shorten Bolsonaro’s prison term, but President Lula said he would veto the bill.

Jair Bolsonaro is expected to be transferred back to federal police headquarters once doctors clear him.