Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro has been granted permission to serve his 27-year sentence for attempting a coup under house arrest, following concerns over his deteriorating health, news agency Associated Press reported.
The decision was issued on Tuesday by Alexandre de Moraes of the Supreme Federal Court, after Bolsonaro had been hospitalised since March 13 with pneumonia. The former leader has faced a series of health complications in recent years, including lingering effects from a 2018 stabbing incident before he was elected president.
Bolsonaro was recently admitted to intensive care for kidney-related issues, among other complications. While doctors have indicated that his condition has improved, no timeline has been provided for his discharge from a hospital in Brasilia.
The ruling follows a recommendation by Brazil’s Attorney General Paulo Gonet, who supported the request for house detention instead of continued incarceration. Bolsonaro’s family had been pushing for such a move since his conviction in November.
The former president, who governed Brazil from 2019 to 2022, had initially been held at a federal police facility before being transferred to a larger cell earlier this year.
Under Brazilian law, house arrest in such cases is typically conditional. Authorities can revoke the arrangement if the detainee’s health improves significantly or if restrictions, such as avoiding public statements, social media activity, or media interactions, are violated.
Meanwhile, the political implications of Bolsonaro’s conviction continue to unfold. His son, Senator Flvio Bolsonaro, has indicated he may run in the upcoming presidential election, where polls suggest a close contest with incumbent President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva.
