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Bolsonaro granted temporary home detention
A Brazilian Supreme Court justice has approved a three-month house arrest for former President Jair Bolsonaro due to deteriorating health, court documents revealed Tuesday.
Medical condition triggers ruling
The 71-year-old was transferred from prison to a private clinic two weeks ago after developing pneumonia. He spent several days in intensive care before being discharged, though his legal team argued ongoing complications-linked to a 2018 stabbing-made continued incarceration untenable.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who also oversaw Bolsonaro's criminal trial, granted the request for a 90-day period starting from his hospital release. A reassessment will follow at the end of the term.
Strict conditions imposed
Under the order, Bolsonaro must wear an electronic ankle monitor and is barred from using phones or social media. Visits are limited to immediate family, attorneys, and medical staff during designated hours.
Moraes cited flight risk concerns, noting Bolsonaro's November attempt to remove his monitor with a soldering iron. The former president later attributed the incident to medication-induced paranoia.
Legal and political context
Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years in prison last September for orchestrating a conspiracy to retain power after his 2022 election loss. He briefly served house arrest during appeals but was jailed in November after violating monitoring terms.
Though barred from running again, Bolsonaro has endorsed his son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, as his preferred candidate in October's presidential election. Recent polls show Flávio in a dead heat with incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in a potential runoff.
