Justice Alexandre de Moraes authorised a temporary leave for former president Jair Bolsonaro to undergo hernia surgery this Thursday at Hospital DF Star in Brasilia, ordering 24-hour police monitoring. Doctors say the hernia is causing pain on both sides of his groin. This will be Bolsonaro's first time out of federal custody since his sentence began in late November. His son Flavio said health concerns forced the cancellation of a planned interview and noted his condition varies day to day.
Brazil Supreme Court Approves Bolsonaro's Temporary Release From Prison For Hernia Surgery
Former President Jair Bolsonaro reacts as he speaks to the media at the Brazilian Senate in Brasilia, July 17, 2025 [Adriano Machado/Reuters]
The Brazilian Supreme Court has authorised former president Jair Bolsonaro to leave federal custody temporarily to undergo hernia surgery later this week, a court ruling confirmed on Tuesday.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes granted the request, allowing Bolsonaro to be transferred to Hospital DF Star in Brasilia for medical examinations on Wednesday and the operation on Thursday. The court ordered 24-hour police monitoring while he is out of the detention centre.
Medical Background
Doctors say Bolsonaro has been experiencing pain in both sides of his groin caused by a hernia. The former president has had multiple hospital stays and procedures since he was stabbed in the abdomen during a campaign rally in 2018. This will be his first departure from federal custody since beginning his sentence in late November.
Legal And Detention Details
Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year prison sentence after being convicted in connection with an alleged plot to overturn Brazil's 2022 election results. He had previously requested to serve his sentence under house arrest; that request was denied by Justice de Moraes. Authorities say he remains held at the federal police headquarters in Brasilia, where he can meet with doctors and lawyers and is kept separate from other inmates.
Political Implications
Since his imprisonment, speculation has intensified that his eldest son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, could become the leading figure on Brazil's political right and potentially mount a bid for the presidency in 2026. Jair Bolsonaro had been scheduled to give an interview to Metropoles on Tuesday but cancelled for health reasons.
In a social media post, Flavio Bolsonaro wrote: "He is about to be hospitalised for surgery. Some days he wakes up feeling well, other days worse. Today may have been a day when he woke up feeling more unwell."
The court emphasised that the transfer should be limited to medical purposes and subject to continuous police supervision. Officials say Bolsonaro will be examined and treated by medical staff while under custody and then returned to federal detention once cleared.
