Brazil’s jailed ex-president Bolsonaro hospitalised with lung infection

The far-right leader, whose persistent health woes are linked to a 2018 stabbing, endorsed his son to run in this year’s election.Published On 14 Mar 2026Brazilian far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro, imprisoned for plotting a coup after he lost the country’s last election, is receiving treatment in an intensive care unit after being hospitalised with bronchopneumonia.The DF Star Hospital in Brasilia said in a statement on Saturday that the 70-year-old was in a stable condition despite being diagnosed with worsening kidney function.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Brazil pulls visa of Trump adviser who asked to visit Bolsonaro in prisonlist 2 of 3Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro seeks court approval for visit from Trump officiallist 3 of 3Brazil flooding death toll rises to 64 as search efforts continueend of listThe hospital added that there was no timeline yet for the ex-president’s discharge.Bolsonaro, who led Brazil from 2019 to 2023, was admitted to the hospital the day before with a high fever, a drop in oxygen saturation, sweating and chills.The former president, who is serving a 27-year sentence for plotting an alleged coup, has been susceptible to bouts of bronchopneumonia, a condition caused by gastric material being inhaled into the respiratory tract.He was stabbed in the abdomen at a campaign rally in 2018 and has had medical issues since.His lawyers have requested that he be allowed to live under house arrest on account of his need for medical attention, but Brazil’s Supreme Court has rejected the petitions.Bolsonaro was convicted in September last year of trying to overturn his 2022 election loss against left-wing leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the current president of Brazil.The charges against him included leading an armed criminal organisation and attempting the violent abolition of the democratic rule of law. Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing.The far-right firebrand, an ally of United States President Donald Trump, remains a central figure in Brazil despite his imprisonment.