Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is recovering in an intensive care unit after a complex 12-hour abdominal surgery performed on Sunday (13). This is his sixth operation related to the injuries suffered during the stabbing he received during the 2018 presidential campaign.
Bolsonaro, 70, was hospitalized on Friday (11) after feeling severe abdominal pain during a political event in Santa Cruz, Rio Grande do Norte. He was subsequently diagnosed with a partial intestinal obstruction, a complication from previous surgeries. He was then transferred to Brasília, where he is being treated at Hospital DF Star.
The surgery aimed to treat intestinal adhesions and reconstruct the abdominal wall. The medical team reported that the procedure was challenging due to Bolsonaro’s surgical history, but it proceeded without unexpected complications and yielded satisfactory results.
This new health setback occurs while Bolsonaro remains active in Brazilian politics. He has been campaigning for Congress to approve a bill granting amnesty to his supporters involved in the January 8, 2023, acts following his electoral defeat. Additionally, he faces legal challenges, including a trial in the Supreme Federal Court for alleged attempts to overturn the 2022 election results. Despite being ineligible until 2030, Bolsonaro maintains his presidential ambitions for the next election, positioning himself as an opponent of current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.