Brazil's imprisoned former President Jair Bolsonaro was admitted to the intensive care unit of DF Star Hospital in Brasilia on Friday with bronchopneumonia. The 70-year-old, serving a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup after his 2022 election defeat, arrived early Friday morning with symptoms including high fever, chills, vomiting, sweating, and low oxygen saturation.

Doctors diagnosed bilateral bacterial bronchopneumonia, likely caused by aspiration, and began treatment with intravenous antibiotics and non-invasive clinical support. "He is currently hospitalized in the intensive care unit, receiving IV antibiotics and non-invasive clinical support," the hospital stated in a bulletin. One of his physicians, Brasil Caiado, described the condition as serious, noting that pneumonia in patients over 70 can progress to septicemia if bacteria enter the bloodstream. Caiado said Bolsonaro is expected to remain hospitalized for at least several days, with surgery ruled out for now.

Bolsonaro has been held at the 19th Military Police Battalion, known as "Papudinha," in Brasilia since November 2025, after his conviction was upheld for orchestrating a coup attempt. The plot involved plans to assassinate then-President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, along with leading an armed criminal organization. He was moved to a larger cell in a penitentiary complex in January.

The former leader, who governed Brazil from 2019 to 2022, has a history of health complications stemming from a 2018 stabbing during his presidential campaign. Recent issues include double hernia surgery in December 2025 and a fall in his cell in January that required medical exams.

Bolsonaro's family renewed calls for house arrest, citing health risks in prison. Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, his eldest son and a prospective 2026 presidential candidate, posted on X: "Jair Bolsonaro's life is being deliberately put at risk," adding there is "no longer any justification" for denying humanitarian house arrest. He also requested prayers. Another son, Carlos Bolsonaro, accused "the system" of trying to kill his father. Justice Alexandre de Moraes, overseeing the case, has previously rejected such requests, citing flight risk and stating Bolsonaro can receive treatment in prison.

As of Saturday, no further updates on Bolsonaro's condition were available, and he is unlikely to return to prison immediately due to the need for continued intravenous treatment.