The ex-president of Brazil, Bolsonaro, was urgently admitted this Friday to a medical center in Natal, the capital of Rio Grande do Norte state, following intense stomach pain, according to sources from the Liberal Party (PL). 

The 70-year-old leader was touring the northern city as part of his political campaign, seeking support for an amnesty project aimed at hardline supporters convicted for their role in the January 8, 2023, attempt to storm government buildings in Brazil.

During the visit, he began experiencing severe abdominal pain in the area where he was stabbed in September 2018 during the presidential campaign in Juiz de Fora. 

Initially, Bolsonaro was taken to a hospital in Santa Cruz, where medical staff stabilized him. He was then transported by helicopter to another medical facility in Natal. AFP photos show the former president arriving by ambulance, connected to an IV drip, alert and relatively calm, though clearly in pain as he walked toward the helicopter. 

The Liberal Party leader has had recurring digestive issues since the 2018 attack, which required multiple surgeries and caused persistent stomach and intestinal complications. According to pro-Bolsonaro Senator Rogério Marinho, the discomfort forced Bolsonaro to suspend part of his campaign schedule.

The current situation of Jair Bolsonaro

Currently, the ex-president faces trial for allegedly conspiring to prevent the inauguration of his successor, Lula da Silva, by seeking military support for a potential coup.

If found guilty by the Supreme Court, Bolsonaro could face up to 40 years in prison. He maintains his innocence, claiming he is a “political target.” 

Medical staff confirmed that his condition is stable and that he will receive continuous monitoring. Meanwhile, his political tour across northern Brazil will continue, with adjustments to his schedule, as Bolsonaro continues to mobilize supporters in defense of his political agenda. 

The incident highlights the ongoing vulnerability of the former president’s health, stemming from the complications of the 2018 stabbing, which continues to affect his political activity and his ability to travel across the country for campaigns and public events.