SAO PAULO (AP) – The health of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has deteriorated following his recent transfer to an intensive care unit at DF Star Hospital in Brasília. At 70 years old, Bolsonaro is grappling with worsened kidney function and pneumonia, and while his medical condition is described as serious, doctors have indicated that it is stable for the moment.
On Friday, August 25, 2023, Bolsonaro was moved from the prison where he is serving a 27-year sentence for leading a failed coup attempt earlier this year. The hospital's statement revealed that there has been a notable increase in the inflammatory markers since the commencement of his treatment. This development follows a period during which Bolsonaro experienced troubling symptoms including high fever, low oxygen levels, sweating, and chills, leading to medical examinations that confirmed his bronchopneumonia, likely due to aspiration.
The former president, who held office from 2019 to 2022, was transferred to a larger cell in January, following a request from his family for him to serve his sentence under house arrest. They argue that he has not received adequate medical attention in custody. The Bolsonaro family has expressed ongoing concerns about his health, especially after he was stabbed at a campaign event in 2018, an incident that has led to multiple hospitalizations over the years.
Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, Jair Bolsonaro's son, spoke to the media in Brasília, noting the troubling nature of his father's ongoing health issues. He mentioned that it is not the first time his father has been hospitalized due to complications stemming from the stabbing, and he emphasized his father’s current stable condition, though he lamented that there has been no improvement.
Jair Bolsonaro faces various convictions, including charges of leading an armed criminal organization and attempting to violently overthrow Brazil’s democratic governance. Despite these convictions, he maintains his innocence and denies any wrongdoing.
The situation continues to be a focal point in Brazilian politics, particularly as Flávio Bolsonaro is expected to run for president later this year against the current incumbent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro's health struggles and ongoing legal issues shed light on the tumultuous aftermath of his presidency and the implications for his family's political future.
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