Brazil’s jailed former President Jair Bolsonaro on Thursday formally endorsed his son Flavio’s bid for the 2026 presidential election, announcing his support from a hospital in Brasília, where he had hernia surgery.
In office from 2019 to 2022, Bolsonaro is a controversial figure after adopting far-right populist policies who his opponents claim has undermined democratic institutions and targeted marginalized groups. He is currently serving a 27-year sentence for an attempted coup.
What did Bolsonaro say?
The former president’s son Flavio read a handwritten letter declaring him a “pre-candidate” for the presidency.
“Oho [Flavio] “This represents the continuation of the path to prosperity that I began long before I became president, because I believe we must restore the responsibility to lead Brazil with justice, determination, and loyalty to the aspirations of the Brazilian people,” Bolsonaro wrote.
The letter, the former president’s first public message in several months, said he was committed to ensuring that “the will of the people” is not silenced.
Flavio Bolsonaro said the letter removes any doubts about his father’s support, after he had signaled support earlier in the month.
What do we know about Flavio Bolsonaro?
The read-out marks the formal start of the younger Bolsonaro’s 2026 presidential campaign, establishing him as the chosen successor to his father’s political movement.
Flavio, a senator from Rio de Janeiro since 2019, has said his campaign aims to preserve what he calls the “legacy” of his father’s administration.
In Congress, he has focused on public safety laws, supporting measures to expand police powers and toughen penalties for violent crime.
The 44-year-old has also supported economic liberalization initiatives in line with the Bolsonaro government’s agenda.
However, his father’s support quickly unsettled parts of Brazil’s political and financial establishment, who had expected Bolsonaro to support someone more experienced.
What do we know about Bolsonaro’s surgery?
Doctors said a scheduled operation was performed to repair the former president’s inguinal or, according to some reports, bilateral hernia.
The procedure, which took several hours, was reported to be successful and without complications.
His wife Michelle Bolsonaro, who accompanied him to the hospital, said the surgery went well and he was recovering under medical supervision.
His medical team and local media said Bolsonaro is expected to be hospitalized for five to seven days.
The 70-year-old man was temporarily released from jail to undergo surgery. After spending several months under house arrest, he has been held at the Federal Police headquarters in Brasília since late November.
He is serving more than 27 years in prison after pleading guilty to attempting to overturn the 2022 election results and prevent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from taking office.
Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes approved medical leave, police were deployed outside Bolsonaro’s hospital room and electronic devices were banned.
The former leader has faced repeated health problems since surviving a knife attack during the 2018 election campaign, requiring multiple abdominal surgeries over the years.
Edited by: Dmytro Lyubenko