Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro underwent successful intestinal surgery in Brasilia on Sunday, following his hospitalisation due to “unbearable” abdominal pain. The 70-year-old politician was admitted on Friday after experiencing severe discomfort linked to complications from a stabbing incident that occurred during his 2018 presidential campaign.
Bolsonaro underwent a laparotomy, a surgical procedure involving an incision through the abdominal wall, to address intestinal adhesions and reconstruct the abdominal wall. The DF Star hospital, where he was treated, released a statement confirming the success of the operation. “Operation finished with success!” wrote Michelle Bolsonaro, the former president’s wife, on Instagram on Sunday evening, a little over 11 hours after the procedure commenced. She expressed gratitude to everyone who prayed for her husband’s recovery.
The hospital’s medical bulletin noted that the surgery lasted approximately twelve hours and was completed without the need for a blood transfusion.
Initially, doctors treating Bolsonaro in the city of Natal—where he was touring Rio Grande do Norte, an impoverished area historically known for its leftist politics—reported that he was stable and did not require immediate surgery. However, a subsequent medical assessment revealed ongoing complications.
“This issue is a consequence of the multiple surgeries I needed to undergo after the attack in 2018,” Bolsonaro stated on social media, referring to the nearly fatal knife attack during his presidential campaign, which resulted in the loss of approximately 40% of his blood and emergency surgery.
Despite the initial stabilisation, healthcare staff in the capital determined that “new tests revealed the persistence of the intestinal blockage despite the clinical treatment initially adopted,” leading them to agree on the necessity of surgical intervention. Bolsonaro remarked on social media, “After so many similar episodes over the past few years, I had gotten used to the pain and discomfort. But this time, even the doctors were surprised.”
In addition to his health issues, Bolsonaro has been actively touring Brazil to advocate for an amnesty bill aimed at benefiting his supporters, who stormed the capital following his 2022 election loss. Recently, Brazil’s Supreme Court ruled that he will stand trial for allegedly plotting to overthrow the legally elected government. Bolsonaro has denied these charges, asserting that the case is a politically motivated attack against him.
Despite being barred from holding office until 2030 due to making unsubstantiated claims regarding fraud in Brazil’s electronic voting system, the far-right politician continues to position himself as a potential candidate for the next election.
Source : DW
