Brazil’s Former President Bolsonaro Discharged After Three-Week Hospital Stay

Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro has been discharged from hospital after spending three weeks undergoing treatment for a major abdominal condition. Bolsonaro, who governed Brazil from 2019 to 2022, had been admitted for an intestinal obstruction. This condition is one of several complications he has faced since a near-fatal stabbing during his 2018 presidential campaign, which has led to at least six surgeries. His discharge on Sunday marked the end of his latest health crisis.

The 70-year-old politician, who lost his re-election bid in 2022 to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, announced his recovery and upcoming plans via social media. He expressed enthusiasm about returning home and revealed his intent to participate in a planned rally called the “Peaceful March for Humanitarian Amnesty,” scheduled for Wednesday, May 7. The event is meant to support individuals who backed Bolsonaro and later stormed Brazil’s Congress, Supreme Court, and presidential palace following his 2022 electoral defeat.

Bolsonaro had refused to publicly concede the election results at the time and has since remained politically active, engaging in efforts to gather public support for an amnesty for those involved in the violent January 2023 riots. During a political event in Rio Grande do Norte in April, while on a national tour promoting this cause, Bolsonaro experienced severe abdominal pain, leading to his hospitalisation.

Though now out of the hospital, Bolsonaro continues to face mounting legal troubles. In March 2025, Brazil’s Supreme Court ruled that he must stand trial for allegedly participating in a plot to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election. The alleged conspiracy reportedly involved more than 30 other individuals and included extreme plans, such as poisoning President Lula and assassinating a Supreme Court judge.

These allegations are part of a wider legal crackdown on Bolsonaro and his allies for their attempts to undermine Brazil’s democratic institutions and incite post-election unrest. Bolsonaro has already been disqualified from running for public office until 2030 due to his repeated attacks on Brazil’s electoral system and his promotion of baseless claims that electronic voting machines were vulnerable to fraud. This ban was imposed after the Supreme Court found him guilty of abusing his office to spread misinformation during his presidency.

Despite these setbacks, Bolsonaro remains a prominent and polarizing figure in Brazilian politics. He continues to enjoy support from segments of the population aligned with far-right ideology and conservative nationalism. His political movement maintains close ties with right-wing figures globally, including in the United States.

Bolsonaro’s recovery from surgery and quick return to political activity underscores both his resilience and the ongoing political tensions in Brazil. His call for amnesty for his supporters and efforts to maintain public presence indicate he remains a key player in Brazil’s evolving political landscape, even while facing serious legal consequences and political restrictions.