Background on Jair Bolsonaro and His Current Situation
Jair Bolsonaro, the 70-year-old former President of Brazil, has been approved by the country’s Supreme Court to leave prison temporarily for a medical procedure. Bolsonaro, an ultraright-wing politician, was sentenced to 27 years in prison in September for attempting a coup d’état.
Bolsonaro’s Health History and Upcoming Surgery
Bolsonaro suffers from complications following a 2018 stabbing incident that required multiple major surgeries. He is set to undergo two procedures: one for a hernia and another for a blocked frenulum nerve causing recurrent glottis issues. The former president will be hospitalized at DF Star, a private clinic in Brasilia where he has been treated before.
Security Measures and Visitations
Judge Alexandre de Moraes, overseeing Bolsonaro’s case, ordered 24-hour surveillance with at least two officers outside his hospital room door. Bolsonaro will not have access to computers, cell phones, or other electronic devices during his hospitalization. His wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, has been permitted as a companion, with the possibility of other visits subject to judicial approval.
Legal Background and Public Reaction
The Supreme Court determined in November that all possible appeals for Bolsonaro had been exhausted. He began serving his sentence in a room at the Federal Police headquarters in Brasilia after burning his electronic ankle monitor, which controlled his pre-trial home detention.
Bolsonaro was found guilty of leading a “criminal organization” that conspired to ensure his “authoritarian control over power” following his electoral defeat to current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in October 2022. The conservative majority in the Brazilian Congress recently passed a bill that could reduce his effective prison time by more than two years.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Jair Bolsonaro? Jair Bolsonaro is the former President of Brazil, an ultraright-wing politician who was sentenced to 27 years in prison for attempting a coup d’état.
- What is the reason for his temporary release? Bolsonaro requires medical attention for a hernia and a blocked frenulum nerve, complications from a 2018 stabbing incident.
- What security measures are in place during his hospitalization? There will be 24-hour surveillance with at least two officers outside his hospital room, and Bolsonaro will not have access to electronic devices.
- What is the legal background of his case? The Supreme Court determined that all possible appeals for Bolsonaro had been exhausted, and he began serving his sentence in a room at the Federal Police headquarters in Brasilia.
- What is the potential impact of the recent congressional bill? The bill, passed by a conservative majority in Congress, could reduce Bolsonaro’s effective prison time by more than two years.
