Former president Jair Bolsonaro left Hospital DF Star a week after a double hernia operation and was returned to the federal police facility in Brasilia to continue serving a 27-year sentence for his role in a plot to overturn the 2022 election. The Supreme Court had authorized his temporary release for surgery, but Justice Alexandre de Moraes denied a request for house arrest. Bolsonaro remains isolated in a 12-square-meter cell; his family and allies have offered brief public statements. He and several associates were convicted of plotting to overthrow democratic institutions, allegations he denies.
Bolsonaro Returned to Federal Jail in Brasilia After Hernia Surgery
The shadow of a supporter of former President Jair Bolsonaro is cast on an image of him displayed outside the hospital where he was transported from prison for surgery the next day, in Brasilia, Brazil, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
BRASILIA, Brazil — Former President Jair Bolsonaro left Hospital DF Star on Thursday and was driven back to the federal police headquarters in Brasilia, where he is serving a 27-year prison sentence for his role in a plot to overturn Brazil's 2022 election.
Hospital DF Star said Bolsonaro was discharged after undergoing minor follow-up procedures a week after a double hernia operation that officials said was completed without complications. Brazil's Supreme Court had authorized a temporary release so he could undergo the surgery.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes — the Supreme Court justice who participated in Bolsonaro's sentencing — denied the former president's request to be placed under house arrest upon his discharge, and Bolsonaro returned directly to federal custody.
Detention Conditions and Medical History
At the federal police facility in Brasilia, Bolsonaro is kept apart from the other inmates. His 12-square-meter (about 130-square-foot) cell includes a bed, private bathroom, air conditioning, a television and a desk. Bolsonaro has undergone multiple medical procedures since he was stabbed in the abdomen at a campaign rally in 2018.
Political Fallout
In December, Bolsonaro intensified his party's campaign plans by naming his eldest son, Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, as the party's presidential candidate for next year's election, setting up a direct challenge to incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Michelle Bolsonaro posted on social media: 'There is a Brazil of good people which loves you and prays for you. We will beat the bad days.'
Convictions and Allegations
Bolsonaro and several allies were convicted in September by a panel of Supreme Court justices for attempting to overthrow Brazil's democratic system after his 2022 election loss. Court findings said the plot included plans to kill President Lula, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Justice Alexandre de Moraes, and schemes to foment an insurrection in early 2023. He was also convicted on charges that include leading an armed criminal organization and attempting the violent abolition of democratic rule. Bolsonaro denies any wrongdoing.
The former president's return to custody underscores the continuing legal and political consequences of the convictions and sets the stage for a heated presidential contest next year.
