Jair Bolsonaro Hospitalized Again With Abdominal Pain \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was hospitalized due to a bowel obstruction tied to a 2018 stabbing injury. After initial care in northeastern Brazil, he was flown to Brasilia on Saturday for further treatment. Doctors say surgery may be needed depending on his recovery.
Quick Looks
- Jair Bolsonaro hospitalized Friday with abdominal pain in northeastern Brazil.
- Pain linked to complications from a 2018 stabbing during his campaign.
- Condition identified as a bowel obstruction; not initially requiring emergency surgery.
- Bolsonaro was transferred by air to Brasilia at his family’s request.
- Doctors say surgery may be necessary depending on recovery progress.
- He called it the “most serious case” since the original injury.
- Initially admitted in Santa Cruz, then moved to Natal for evaluation.
- Hospitalized while preparing for a political tour across the northeast.
- Bolsonaro remains barred from running in the next presidential election.
- The northeast is a stronghold for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Deep Look
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was transferred by medical aircraft to Brasilia on Saturday following a sudden hospitalization in the northeastern state of Rio Grande do Norte. The 69-year-old conservative leader was admitted on Friday after experiencing acute abdominal pain during a regional political trip. Doctors later confirmed the pain was due to a bowel obstruction—an ongoing medical issue tied to a 2018 stabbing attack that has left him with long-term complications.
Bolsonaro, who governed Brazil from 2019 to 2022, has faced numerous health setbacks since the near-fatal attack during his 2018 presidential campaign. The stabbing, carried out during a public rally in the city of Juiz de Fora, perforated several of his internal organs, including his intestines, and caused significant internal bleeding. While he survived and went on to win the presidency later that year, the aftermath of the attack has defined much of his medical history.
Friday’s episode marked another painful reminder of that trauma. Bolsonaro was initially hospitalized in the small city of Santa Cruz while preparing to kick off a political tour across Brazil’s northeast—a region traditionally supportive of his political rival, current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. He was later moved to a larger hospital in the state capital, Natal, where he was stabilized and evaluated.
Doctors at Rio Grande Hospital confirmed that Bolsonaro did not require immediate surgery but stated that further procedures could be necessary depending on how his condition evolved. According to the medical team, his bowel obstruction—likely caused by scar tissue and chronic digestive complications from the 2018 injury—had caused him significant pain.
In a personal update posted to social media on Saturday, Bolsonaro acknowledged the severity of the episode, saying it caught even his medical team off guard. “After so many similar episodes over the past few years, I had gotten used to the pain and discomfort,” he wrote. “But this time, even the doctors were surprised. One of them told me it was the most serious case since the attack.”
His transfer to the capital was arranged at the request of his family, who wanted him under the care of his long-standing medical team in Brasilia. By Saturday afternoon, Bolsonaro had arrived and was admitted for further observation and evaluation.
This isn’t the first time Bolsonaro has been hospitalized for related issues. Since the stabbing, he has undergone multiple surgeries—more than five during and after his presidency—including procedures to address intestinal blockages, hernias, and adhesions. His recurring health issues have periodically sidelined him from public appearances and state responsibilities.
While Bolsonaro is currently barred from running for political office due to legal rulings related to his role in the January 8, 2023, riot at Brazil’s capital—a movement by his supporters disputing Lula’s presidential victory—he continues to play an outsized role in shaping Brazil’s conservative agenda. His hospital stay interrupted a regional campaign tour meant to galvanize right-wing supporters and endorse candidates from his Liberal Party ahead of future elections.
The northeastern region, where he fell ill, has long been a political bastion for President Lula and his Workers’ Party. Bolsonaro’s appearance there was seen as a strategic move to reclaim influence in a traditionally left-leaning area. Although legally prohibited from running in the 2026 presidential race, Bolsonaro’s political presence remains strong, and many observers believe he aims to shape the campaign by positioning allies to run on his platform.
Bolsonaro’s health, however, may become a growing concern for his political allies and supporters. Frequent hospital visits and surgical procedures have raised questions about whether he can sustain the demands of leading a national political movement, especially if more surgery is required. While he has not signaled any plans to withdraw from public life, this latest setback has reignited conversations about his long-term viability.
Despite medical challenges, Bolsonaro has maintained an active presence in Brazilian political discourse. He has frequently used social media to communicate with supporters, criticize government policy under President Lula, and voice opposition to the Supreme Electoral Court’s decisions that led to his political ineligibility.
His base remains loyal, particularly among religious conservatives, military personnel, and agricultural sectors that have championed his pro-business, anti-regulation policies. His visits to various parts of the country, including this most recent trip to the northeast, are part of a broader effort to preserve and expand that base in anticipation of the next election cycle.
Back in Brasilia, Bolsonaro’s medical team is monitoring his condition closely. There has been no official confirmation yet on whether or when another surgery will take place. Health experts say that patients with long-standing intestinal trauma and adhesions often suffer from recurring blockages, and additional operations may be required to prevent more severe complications.
Meanwhile, political analysts are watching closely. Any significant deterioration in Bolsonaro’s health could dramatically reshape the dynamics of Brazil’s right-wing movement. Should he be unable to continue touring or publicly supporting allies, it may weaken the momentum his party has been trying to build.
As of now, Bolsonaro remains hospitalized but in stable condition. His family, party members, and loyal supporters await further updates on his recovery and what it may mean for his continued influence in Brazilian politics.
Jair Bolsonaro Hospitalized
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