Brazil’s Supreme Court has authorized former President Jair Bolsonaro to temporarily leave prison to undergo surgery on Christmas Day, according to court documents released Tuesday.
The decision allows Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27 year sentence for plotting a coup after losing the 2022 election, to be transferred from federal custody to a hospital in Brasília for a hernia operation scheduled for December 25.
Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes approved the request on Tuesday, citing medical necessity. The ruling permits Bolsonaro to leave prison under guard and receive treatment before returning to custody once doctors clear him.
Bolsonaro, 70, has experienced ongoing health complications since he was stabbed in the abdomen during the 2018 presidential campaign. In April, he underwent intestinal surgery, and by November Justice Moraes ordered that he receive full time medical care while detained.
Flávio Bolsonaro, one of the former president’s sons, posted a video on X following the ruling, urging supporters to pray. “Keep praying for the president,” he wrote.
Bolsonaro was convicted in September for orchestrating a coup attempt after losing the 2022 election to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Prosecutors said he sought to undermine democratic institutions and remain in power despite the election result.
He is currently held at a federal police facility in Brasília after authorities deemed him a flight risk and revoked an earlier form of home detention.
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Earlier this month, large demonstrations took place in major Brazilian cities as supporters protested a proposed bill that would significantly reduce the time Bolsonaro spends in prison.
Lawmakers approved the measure last week after it passed the lower house. Legal analysts estimate the change could shorten Bolsonaro’s sentence to less than three years.
President Lula has said he intends to block the legislation. Speaking to reporters last week, he said, “With all due respect to Congress, when it reaches my desk, I will veto it,” while acknowledging that lawmakers could attempt to override his decision.
In Washington, US President Donald Trump welcomed the passage of the bill, having previously described the investigation into Bolsonaro as a “witch hunt.” The United States also lifted sanctions imposed in July on Justice Moraes, who oversaw Bolsonaro’s trial.
The Supreme Court ruling on Bolsonaro’s medical transfer does not alter his conviction or sentence, and officials say further decisions will depend on medical assessments following the surgery.
