The Brazilian Federal Supreme Court approves house arrest for former President Bolsonaro

Brazil’s Federal Supreme Court justice Alexandre de Moraes on the 24th approved a home confinement request submitted by former President Jair Bolsonaro’s defense attorneys. De Moraes said that because Bolsonaro needs treatment for bronchitis, he may serve his sentence via home confinement within the next 90 days, and after the 90-day period ends, the court will make a new decision on whether to continue home confinement based on the results of a medical assessment. The decision adopted the opinion of Brazil’s Attorney General Paulo Gonet. On the 23rd, Gonet urged the Federal Supreme Court to place Bolsonaro under home confinement, saying his health condition could experience “sudden and unforeseeable deterioration.” On March 13, Bolsonaro was admitted to a hospital in Brazil’s capital, Brasília, after his bronchitis worsened for treatment. A medical bulletin issued by the hospital on the 23rd showed that Bolsonaro’s condition is improving; he would be moved from the intensive care unit to a general ward and may be discharged within the next few days. Bolsonaro has been subject to criminal charges over an alleged attempt to stage a coup after he lost the 2022 presidential election. On September 11, 2025, the Federal Supreme Court of Brazil declared Bolsonaro guilty of masterminding a coup plot and sentenced him to 27 years and 3 months. Bolsonaro began serving his sentence formally on November 25, 2025. (Xinhua News Agency)