A Brazilian Supreme Court justice granted a request by former president Jair Bolsonaro to temporarily serve his sentence under house arrest after his discharge from a hospital. Bolsonaro underwent treatment for bronchopneumonia.

Bolsonaro, the 71-year-old former far-right president, had been serving a 27-year prison sentence since September, following an attempted coup in 2022. He expressed gratitude after the court’s decision.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes authorized Bolsonaro’s temporary humanitarian house arrest for an initial 90-day period, which could be extended if necessary for medical reasons.

Bolsonaro will be required to wear an electronic monitor and will have restrictions on phone and social media use, although he can receive visits from family, lawyers, and doctors.

Bolsonaro’s infection was reportedly caused by a bronchial aspiration episode linked to a stab wound he suffered while campaigning in 2018. During his imprisonment, he nominated his son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, as a candidate for the upcoming presidential election.

Opinion polls show a tight race between Flavio Bolsonaro and the left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is seeking re-election for a fourth term this October.

The decision to grant house arrest comes after Bolsonaro’s hospitalization in mid-January and subsequent plead from his legal team on humanitarian grounds.

The ruling implies new dynamics in the upcoming election, potentially impacting the race between Flavio Bolsonaro and Lula da Silva, according to political analysts.

The development raises questions about the influence of Bolsonaro’s release on the presidential race’s outcome, highlighting the ongoing political tensions in Brazil.