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Hospital Discharge and Transfer
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was discharged from DF Star Hospital in Brasilia on Friday, March 27, 2026, after a two-week hospitalization for bilateral bronchopneumonia . The 71-year-old was transferred directly to his home in the Jardim Botanico neighborhood of Brasilia to begin serving a temporary house arrest sentence .
Bolsonaro was initially hospitalized on March 13 after suffering from high fever, chills, and low oxygen saturation while incarcerated at the Papuda Prison Complex . He spent more than a week in the intensive care unit before being moved to a regular ward on March 23 .
His lead physician, Brasil Caiado, stated that Bolsonaro’s condition progressed “without complications” over the final 48 hours of hospitalization, though full recovery from bilateral pneumonia could take between six weeks and six months .
The 90-Day House Arrest Decision
Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes granted the temporary house arrest on humanitarian grounds on Tuesday, March 24 . The decision followed repeated denials of similar requests from Bolsonaro’s legal team, but the severity of this hospitalization tipped the scales in favor of release .
The house arrest is initially authorized for 90 days, after which the court will reassess whether to extend the arrangement or return the former president to prison .
Justice Moraes’ ruling imposes strict conditions on Bolsonaro’s confinement :
- Electronic ankle monitor must be worn at all times
- No cell phones, computers, or social media access
- No recording or publishing of videos or audio
- Restricted visits to family, lawyers, and medical staff only
- Military police will secure the residence to prevent escape
The Prison Sentence and Health History
Bolsonaro is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence for his conviction in November 2025 on charges of attempting a coup following his narrow defeat in the 2022 election to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva .
His health has deteriorated rapidly during approximately 100 days in detention . This latest illness is the third hospitalization during his incarceration, following an abdominal surgery related to a 2018 stabbing and a head injury from a fall in his cell .
The 2018 stabbing during his presidential campaign has caused lasting complications, including recurrent hiccups, vomiting, and susceptibility to aspiration pneumonia .
Political Context
Bolsonaro’s return home coincides with the pre-campaign of his eldest son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, whom he launched as the conservative presidential candidate for October’s elections . Opinion polls show a dead heat between Flavio Bolsonaro and President Lula, who is seeking a fourth term at age 80 .
The house arrest conditions barring social media use are particularly significant given the timing, as both political blocs work to secure alliances ahead of the October
