Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro Hospitalized with Pneumonia
Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s former president, has been admitted to an intensive care unit in a hospital in Brasilia, the nation’s capital, following a diagnosis of pneumonia, as confirmed by the hospital on Friday.
Dr. Brasil Caiado, part of Bolsonaro’s medical team, informed the media that the situation for the 70-year-old is critical. “Pneumonia in patients over 70 is always serious because it can progress to septicemia, since the bacteria can normally enter the bloodstream and cause an even more severe condition,” Caiado explained.
Earlier reports indicated that Bolsonaro’s eldest son, Flávio, announced on X that his father was moved from prison to the hospital after experiencing chills and vomiting. “I ask for prayers that it not be anything serious,” Flávio Bolsonaro pleaded. Flávio, who is running for president this year, appears nearly tied in polls with current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Bolsonaro is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence for orchestrating a coup, a conviction handed down by a Supreme Court panel last year. According to DF Star Hospital, Bolsonaro’s symptoms included high fever, low oxygen levels, sweating, and chills, which led to the diagnosis of bronchopneumonia, likely due to aspiration.
“He is currently hospitalized in the intensive care unit, receiving IV antibiotics and non-invasive clinical support,” the hospital’s statement read. Dr. Caiado noted that Bolsonaro would likely remain hospitalized for several days due to the necessity of intravenous treatment.
In January, Bolsonaro was moved to a larger cell, but his family continues to request house arrest, citing inadequate medical care in prison. Carlos Bolsonaro, another son, expressed concern on X, suggesting that “the system, literally and insistently, (is) trying to kill” his father.
The Supreme Court has rejected these claims and maintains Bolsonaro must serve his sentence in prison. Bolsonaro has a history of hospitalizations dating back to a stabbing incident during the 2018 presidential campaign. In January, he was also hospitalized for brain tests after a fall in prison.
Bolsonaro, alongside several allies, was convicted in September for attempting to destabilize Brazil’s democracy after losing the 2022 election. The plot included plans to assassinate current President Lula, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, as well as inciting an insurrection in early 2023. Bolsonaro, accused of leading an armed criminal organization and attempting to abolish democratic law violently, denies these charges.
The trial gained international attention when U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Brazil, referring to the judicial process against Bolsonaro as a “witch hunt.” These tariffs have largely been lifted since.
Follow more updates on Latin America and the Caribbean at AP’s Latin America coverage.
