Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, once a dominant figure on the country’s political stage, now finds himself at the center of a dramatic convergence of legal turmoil and personal health crises. In the wake of his conviction for leading an attempted coup after losing Brazil’s 2022 presidential election, Bolsonaro, 70, has faced a string of medical emergencies, including the recent discovery of early-stage skin cancer. The fallout from his legal battles and hospitalizations is reverberating through Brazil’s political establishment and beyond, raising questions about the future for both Bolsonaro and the country he once led.
On September 14, 2025, Brazil’s Supreme Court handed down a verdict that sent shockwaves through the nation: Bolsonaro was found guilty by a panel of justices for plotting to overturn the 2022 election results, which saw him lose to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The court sentenced him to 27 years and three months in prison, a landmark ruling in a country with a turbulent political history. However, the sentence is not yet final. According to Reuters and Al Jazeera, the court has up to 60 days to publish its ruling. Once published, Bolsonaro’s legal team will have five days to file motions for clarification—a process that could stretch on for weeks or even months.
Since early August, Bolsonaro has been under house arrest in Brasilia, the nation’s capital. The conditions are strict. Justice Alexandre de Moraes, overseeing the case, imposed additional security measures in late August, ordering police to inspect all vehicles leaving Bolsonaro’s residence and to monitor the property’s exterior. The former president was already wearing an ankle monitor, a precaution enforced after federal police alleged that he and his son Eduardo had collaborated with U.S. authorities to seek sanctions against Brazilian officials for alleged persecution.
Bolsonaro’s health has become a focal point in the unfolding drama. Just days after the Supreme Court’s verdict, he was hospitalized twice. On September 14, he was admitted to the DF Star hospital in Brasilia to have eight skin lesions removed for testing. Only two days later, on September 16, he was rushed back to the hospital after suffering a severe bout of hiccups, vomiting, and low blood pressure—a situation his son Flávio described as a “dramatic episode” that left the former president breathless for almost 10 seconds. Bolsonaro’s wife, Michelle, confirmed that he received intravenous medication during his stay, while prison guards were seen stationed at the hospital.
By September 17, Bolsonaro was released from the hospital, but not without troubling news. According to a statement from his doctors cited by Associated Press and AFP, two of the lesions removed earlier tested positive for early-stage skin cancer. The medical team emphasized that Bolsonaro will require clinical monitoring and regular reevaluation, though they stopped short of outlining a specific treatment plan. Dr. Claudio Birolini, who has overseen Bolsonaro’s care, noted that the former president was “quite weak” and had developed slight anemia, likely due to poor nutrition over the past month.
Bolsonaro’s eldest son, Flávio, took to X (formerly Twitter) to rally support for his father. “My father has already fought tougher battles and won. This one won’t be any different,” Flávio wrote on September 17. He also suggested that the health problems and legal challenges facing Bolsonaro are the result of “relentless persecution ever since Jair Bolsonaro dared to challenge the system head-on and fight for Brazil.”
The former president’s medical troubles are not new. Since being stabbed in the abdomen during a campaign event in 2018, Bolsonaro has endured recurring intestinal issues and undergone at least six surgeries related to the injury. His most recent major operation—a grueling 12-hour procedure—took place in April 2025 to address a bowel obstruction. These ongoing health concerns have become a central argument for Bolsonaro’s legal team, who are expected to use his condition as grounds for requesting that he remain under house arrest rather than be transferred to a detention center.
Bolsonaro’s legal and political saga has also drawn in international actors. U.S. President Donald Trump, a longtime ally, has repeatedly criticized the Brazilian proceedings. In July 2025, Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods, citing the case against Bolsonaro as a primary reason and calling the trial a “witch hunt.” The Trump administration even went so far as to sanction one of the judges involved in the trial. The move has further complicated U.S.-Brazil relations, which are already strained by broader trade disputes and disagreements over environmental and human rights issues.
Within Brazil, the response to Bolsonaro’s conviction and health issues has been deeply polarized. His supporters, including many in Congress, have rallied behind him, with some pushing for an amnesty that would spare him from prison. According to AFP, these allies argue that the charges are politically motivated and that Bolsonaro is being targeted for his efforts to challenge the established order. On the other hand, critics insist that the Supreme Court’s ruling is a necessary step to uphold Brazil’s democracy and prevent future attempts to subvert electoral outcomes.
Bolsonaro himself remains defiant, continuing to deny any wrongdoing and insisting that he is the victim of political persecution. The uncertainty surrounding his future—whether he will remain under house arrest during the appeal process or eventually be moved to prison—only adds to the tension. As Al Jazeera reported, the legal process could take months to resolve, with the possibility of further appeals and political maneuvering.
For many Brazilians, the spectacle of a former president facing both a lengthy prison sentence and a serious health diagnosis is unprecedented. The story has captivated the nation, with supporters gathering outside hospitals and his residence, holding signs and chanting slogans of encouragement. The broader implications for Brazil’s political landscape remain unclear, as the country grapples with questions about the rule of law, accountability, and the health of its democracy.
As Bolsonaro’s fate hangs in the balance, his case serves as a vivid reminder of the unpredictable intersection of politics, justice, and personal adversity. The coming weeks will test not only the resilience of the former president but also the institutions tasked with navigating this turbulent chapter in Brazil’s history.
