Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a figure who has rarely been out of the headlines since his tumultuous term in office, was rushed to a hospital in Brasilia on September 16, 2025, after suffering a sudden health emergency. According to his son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the 70-year-old ex-president experienced a "severe bout of hiccups, vomiting, and low blood pressure," prompting police officers stationed at his residence to escort him to the DF Star clinic for urgent care. This marks the second time in just a few days that Bolsonaro has required hospitalization, underscoring ongoing concerns about his health as he faces the fallout from a dramatic conviction on charges of attempting a coup.
Bolsonaro’s most recent hospitalization follows a visit to the same clinic on September 14, when he was treated for skin lesions. Medical tests at that time revealed iron-deficiency anemia and signs of a recent bout of pneumonia, as reported by the Associated Press and corroborated by CNN. His wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, later provided an update on his condition through social media, assuring supporters that he had undergone a series of medical examinations and was receiving intravenous medication. "Everything will be all right!" she wrote, attempting to quell mounting anxieties among his followers.
These health scares come at a particularly fraught moment for the former president. On September 11, 2025, a panel of Supreme Court justices found Bolsonaro guilty of attempting to orchestrate a coup to remain in power after his defeat in the 2022 presidential election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The court handed down a sentence of 27 years and three months in prison—a historic decision that has roiled Brazilian politics and reverberated internationally. According to Reuters and Al Jazeera, Bolsonaro’s conviction stems from charges that he tried to organize unconstitutional actions to subvert the election results, a charge he steadfastly denies.
Despite the severity of the sentence, the legal process is far from over. Under Brazilian law, the Supreme Court has up to 60 days to publish its formal ruling following the verdict. Once the decision is made public, Bolsonaro’s lawyers will have five days to file motions for clarification. As a result, the former president is unlikely to be transferred to a detention center in the immediate future. In fact, as Reuters notes, Brazilian convicts often serve only about a sixth of their sentence in full custody before becoming eligible for day-release programs, suggesting that Bolsonaro may never serve the full 27 years behind bars.
Since early August 2025, Bolsonaro has been under house arrest, monitored by an ankle bracelet and subject to strict security measures. Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversees the case, ordered police to inspect all vehicles leaving Bolsonaro’s residence and to maintain a continuous watch over its exterior. These precautions were tightened in late August after allegations that Bolsonaro had violated previous court-imposed restrictions. The former president’s legal team is expected to cite his deteriorating health as grounds for maintaining house arrest rather than moving him to a prison facility, a strategy that could gain traction given his recurring medical crises.
Bolsonaro’s health struggles are not new. He has faced a series of complications since being stabbed during a campaign event in 2018, an attack that left him with lasting intestinal issues and has required multiple surgeries. In April 2025, he underwent surgery for a bowel obstruction, and his recent hospitalizations for anemia and pneumonia have only added to the list of ailments. His son Flávio, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), described the latest episode as a "state of emergency," highlighting the gravity of the situation.
The political stakes surrounding Bolsonaro’s conviction and health are enormous. His supporters, many of whom view the court’s decision as an act of political persecution, have rallied behind an amnesty bill in Congress. Some have even floated the possibility of a presidential pardon after the 2026 election, a move that has sparked fierce debate among legal scholars and sitting Supreme Court justices. Sao Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas, a potential presidential candidate, has publicly stated he would pardon Bolsonaro if elected, though several justices argue such a pardon would be unconstitutional.
The upcoming presidential election could prove pivotal for Bolsonaro’s fate. The next president will have the authority to appoint three new Supreme Court justices, replacing those set to retire. This turnover could potentially shift the court’s balance and open the door to revisiting Bolsonaro’s conviction. Additionally, if a supermajority emerges in the Senate, there is the theoretical possibility of impeaching sitting justices, which could further reshape the legal landscape.
Internationally, the case has drawn sharp reactions, particularly from the United States. Former President Donald Trump, a vocal ally of Bolsonaro, has condemned the trial as a "witch hunt." In July, Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Brazilian goods, explicitly citing the case against Bolsonaro and other trade concerns. He has also sanctioned the Supreme Court justice overseeing the case, adding a layer of diplomatic tension to an already charged situation.
Bolsonaro’s political journey has been marked by controversy and polarization. After leading Brazil from 2019 to 2022, he lost the 2022 election but did not officially concede defeat. In January 2023, his supporters staged mass demonstrations and riots in the capital, even attempting to seize government buildings—a chaotic episode that drew condemnation from around the world.
For now, Bolsonaro remains under house arrest, his future uncertain as legal, political, and medical challenges converge. His lawyers are likely to continue pressing for leniency on the grounds of ill health, while his supporters hope for legislative or executive intervention. Meanwhile, his opponents argue that the court’s decision is a necessary step to uphold the rule of law and prevent future threats to Brazil’s democracy.
The coming months will reveal whether Bolsonaro’s conviction stands, whether his health will keep him out of prison, and what impact the political maneuvering around his case will have on Brazil’s already volatile landscape. As the legal clock ticks and the country braces for another election cycle, the fate of one of Brazil’s most polarizing leaders remains as uncertain—and as closely watched—as ever.
