Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said he anticipates being discharged from hospital on Sunday and may participate in a rally he organized to support a proposed amnesty for his supporters involved in the January 2023 Brasilia riots. These riots occurred after his defeat in the 2022 election.
“After three weeks, discharge expected today, Sunday, at 10 a.m. (1300 GMT),” the 70-year-old Bolsonaro wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
On Saturday, his medical team had indicated his release was expected “in the coming days” following major abdominal surgery last month to treat an intestinal obstruction.
“I’m going home renewed. My next challenge: joining the Peaceful March for Humanitarian Amnesty on Wednesday, May 7,” the far-right leader added, signaling his potential return to the political stage.
Bolsonaro was hospitalized for his sixth surgery related to a 2018 stabbing incident that resulted in lasting injuries. He was admitted to a hospital in Brasilia after experiencing severe abdominal pain during a political event in Brazil’s northeast region.
His hospitalization interrupted a tour intended to garner support for the amnesty initiative. This initiative aims to pardon those convicted in connection with the January 2023 riots that followed his narrow election loss to current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The January 2023 riots saw Bolsonaro supporters storm government buildings in Brasilia, protesting the election results.
Brazil’s Supreme Court has ruled that Bolsonaro should stand trial for allegedly plotting to overturn the election result. He denies any involvement in such a plot and maintains his innocence. The proposed amnesty and Bolsonaro’s potential trial are key points of political tension in Brazil.
