Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s kidney function has deteriorated in the intensive care unit, a hospital in the capital Brasilia said, where he was transferred hours ago.
Sao Paulo — Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s kidney function has deteriorated in the intensive care unit he was transferred to hours ago, a hospital in the capital Brasilia said on Saturday. Doctors say the 70-year-old hero also has pneumonia and his medical condition is critical, but stable.
Bolsonaro was released from prison on Friday to DF Star Hospital, where he is serving a 27-year sentence for leading a coup attempt in 2023. The hospital said in a statement that he had increased inflammatory markers since treatment began.
The former president, who ruled between 2019-22, was hospitalized after suffering from high fever, low oxygen, sweating and chills. Tests confirmed bronchopneumonia, a type of pneumonia, probably caused by aspiration.
The confused former leader was transferred from local federal police headquarters to a large cell in January, but his relatives have repeatedly asked Brazil’s Supreme Court to allow him to serve his sentence under house arrest. They say they did not receive adequate medical attention.
Bolsonaro has been hospitalized multiple times since being stabbed at a campaign event before the 2018 presidential election. One of his sons, Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro is expected to run against Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for the presidency later this year.
“Unfortunately we have to learn how to live with this. This is not the first, second or third time my father has been hospitalized for complications from a stabbing,” Flavio Bolsonaro told journalists in Brasilia. “He’s stable, he hasn’t improved, but he’s stable.”
Jair Bolsonaro was convicted on charges including leading an armed criminal organization and attempting to violently overthrow the rule of law in a democracy. He has denied any wrongdoing.
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