Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is recovering after a complex 12-hour surgery related to the 2018 stabbing incident during his presidential campaign. The procedure, his fifth since the attack, began Sunday morning in Brasília and took twice as long as initially planned due to complications. His wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, shared on social media that the surgery was successful and expressed gratitude for the public's prayers.
Bolsonaro, 70, was hospitalized on Friday after experiencing intense abdominal pain during a political event in northeastern Brazil. He was transferred to the capital for urgent care, cutting short his nationwide tour aimed at rallying support for a proposed amnesty bill.
The former president, known for his far-right views and military background, continues to campaign despite facing legal battles. In a message to allies before surgery, he criticized what he called excessive punishment against a supporter facing a 10-year prison sentence for participating in the January 2023 riots following his electoral defeat. Bolsonaro urged lawmakers to pass the amnesty bill, emphasizing its moral and political weight.
Brazil's Supreme Court ruled in March that Bolsonaro will stand trial for allegedly conspiring to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election. Though he denies the charges and accuses the judiciary of political persecution, he remains banned from holding public office until 2030 for undermining the electoral system.
Despite these legal hurdles, Bolsonaro claims he will run in the 2026 presidential election to challenge current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Lula, a leftist leader serving his third term, is facing declining approval ratings amid economic challenges, including rising inflation.
The outcome of Bolsonaro's trial could reshape Brazil’s political future and determine whether he returns to the national stage.