SAO PAULO — Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been moved out of the intensive care unit as he continues to recover from a complex bowel surgery. He remains hospitalized at the DF Star Hospital in Brasilia, where doctors confirmed his stable condition and noted that he has commenced a liquid diet. Although his recovery is progressing well, there is no definitive timeline for his discharge.
Bolsonaro’s surgery, which took place on April 13, was a rigorously intricate 12-hour procedure aimed at removing intestinal adhesions and reconstructing his abdominal wall. This marks the sixth medical intervention directly linked to the aftermath of a stabbing incident during a 2018 campaign rally. Since then, Bolsonaro has contended with numerous medical challenges, requiring repeated hospital visits and surgeries throughout his presidency from 2019 to 2022.
The recent surgery was characterized by the medical team as the “most complex” since the initial attack due to its necessity for a “very delicate and prolonged post-surgery.” Bolsonaro initially sought medical help on April 11 in a small town called Santa Cruz in Rio Grande do Norte and was subsequently moved to a hospital in Natal, the capital of the state. His family later facilitated his transfer to Brasilia to continue his treatment.
Before this health setback, Bolsonaro was preparing for a northeastern Brazil tour to advocate for his Liberal Party’s right-wing policies. He was also looking to campaign, despite not being eligible to run in next year’s presidential election. The northeast has largely remained a stronghold for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Furthermore, Bolsonaro is anticipated to face trial at Brazil’s Supreme Court in the upcoming months. The allegations center on his role in an attempted coup in January 2023, which witnessed violent actions by his supporters in Brasilia.