Brazil’s jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro is in intensive care with pneumonia. The 70-year-old was taken to DF Star hospital in Brasilia with a high fever, chills, and a drop in oxygen saturation. His condition is serious, requiring antibiotics.

Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup after losing the 2022 presidential election to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. He has a history of hospitalizations related to a 2018 stabbing and was previously hospitalized for a head injury in January.

Brasil Caiado, one of the doctors treating Bolsonaro, stated that surgery is currently ruled out. The Bolsonaro family and his lawyers have been petitioning for his house arrest, but Justice Alexandre de Moraes has denied those requests.

"Jair Bolsonaro’s life is being deliberately put at risk," Senator Flavio Bolsonaro said, calling for humanitarian house arrest. He has announced himself as a prospective candidate in the 2026 presidential election.

Bolsonaro’s conviction has sparked nationwide protests. his current bronchopneumonia diagnosis presents a new health challenge for the imprisoned former president.

The hospitalization of Bolsonaro has reignited debates about the conditions of his imprisonment and the need for medical attention outside prison walls. The ongoing legal battles over his house arrest continue amid his deteriorating health status.

Bolsonaro’s health crisis comes amidst a political landscape gearing up for upcoming elections. His family and supporters are raising concerns about the risks posed by his current health situation.

The former president’s health condition poses challenges both for his political future and the ongoing legal battles over his imprisonment. Bolsonaro’s case highlights the intersection of health, politics, and justice in Brazil.