News|Jair BolsonaroBrazil’s Supreme Court rejects Jair Bolsonaro’s request for house arrestBolsonaro’s latest petition, one in a series, comes after he spent the week in hospital for a hernia and hiccups.
## Supreme Court Denies House Arrest for Jair Bolsonaro
Supreme Court Denies House Arrest for Jair Bolsonaro
The Brazilian Federal Supreme Court has denied a request from the defense team of former President Jair Bolsonaro to transition him from prison to house arrest. Bolsonaro, aged 70, has been recently hospitalized for treatments related to aggressive hiccups and a hernia.
On Thursday, Bolsonaro's petition for house arrest on humanitarian grounds was rejected. Justice Alexandre de Moraes stated that Bolsonaro already has access to continuous medical care while in police custody. The former president is currently detained at the federal police headquarters in Brasilia, following a 27-year prison sentence for attempting to overturn his 2022 electoral defeat.
Justice Moraes questioned the necessity of humanitarian accommodations for Bolsonaro's health, citing reports of improvement in his condition from his own doctors.
Following the court's decision, hospital authorities confirmed Bolsonaro's release after successful treatment, and he was returned to prison.
Previous Requests and Health Interventions
This recent denial is not the first; previous requests for house arrest citing Bolsonaro's health concerns, including conditions from a past abdominal stabbing, have also been rejected. Bolsonaro was arrested in November for damaging an ankle monitor, which allowed him home detention during appeals after his conviction in September.
Bolsonaro, aged 70, has been recently hospitalized for treatments related to aggressive hiccups and a hernia.
Despite warnings from his lawyers about the risks of imprisonment on his health, the court has maintained its stance. On December 23, the Supreme Court allowed Bolsonaro temporary release for hernia surgery, which was linked to his past injuries.
Jair Bolsonaro, a former army captain, led Brazil from 2019 to 2023 and was a prominent figure in Brazil's far-right. His presidency faced scrutiny over his comments on Brazil's military dictatorship and allegations of undermining the electronic voting system.
The Superior Electoral Court barred Bolsonaro from public office for eight years in 2023, citing baseless claims about the election system. In the 2022 presidential race, Bolsonaro lost narrowly to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Following the election, Bolsonaro's legal challenges against the results were dismissed for lack of evidence.
Post-Election Tensions and Investigations
Post-election, Bolsonaro's supporters led protests, culminating in an attack on Brasilia's Three Powers Plaza on January 8, 2023. These events prompted investigations that accused Bolsonaro and his allies of attempting to disrupt Brazil's constitutional order.
In February 2025, prosecutors formally charged Bolsonaro with several offenses, including attempted coup d'état. Despite international pressure, including from US President Donald Trump, Bolsonaro was found guilty in September.
Bolsonaro continues to deny wrongdoing and remains a significant figure on the right, with his son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, announcing a presidential challenge against Lula. Meanwhile, discussions continue in Congress about potential legislation affecting Bolsonaro's sentence, although President Lula has indicated plans to veto such measures.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.