Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was discharged from a hospital in Brasília on Sunday, following three weeks of recovery from major abdominal surgery. Shortly after leaving, he renewed his appeal for a general amnesty for supporters imprisoned over the January 2023 attacks on government buildings.
Speaking to reporters and supporters outside DF Star Hospital, the 70-year-old said, “What hurts the most is seeing innocent people with sentences of up to 17 years in prison.” He defended his call for amnesty, arguing there was “no bloodshed, no firearms — nothing” during the incident.
Bolsonaro, who underwent surgery to treat an intestinal obstruction stemming from a 2018 stabbing, expressed optimism about his recovery, writing on social media, “I’m going home renewed. My next challenge: joining the Peaceful March for Humanitarian Amnesty on Wednesday, May 7.”
Despite his intentions, his doctor advised against attending the march, citing the need for a soft diet, rest, and avoidance of crowds during a three- to four-week recovery period.
Bolsonaro was hospitalized after experiencing severe abdominal pain while attending a political event in Brazil’s northeast. The trip had been part of a campaign to rally support for a proposed amnesty bill aimed at those convicted for their roles in the post-election unrest.
That legislation, now being pushed in Congress by Bolsonaro’s allies, could potentially benefit the former president himself. Brazil’s Supreme Court has ordered that he stand trial over alleged efforts to overturn the 2022 election results. Bolsonaro, currently barred from seeking public office, denies any wrongdoing.