Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro has been diagnosed with early-stage skin cancer, his doctors confirmed on Wednesday. The announcement comes shortly after the 70-year-old politician was convicted of attempting a coup to overturn his 2022 election defeat.
Bolsonaro, who is under house arrest in Brasília until his sentence is finalised, has visited the hospital twice since last week’s court ruling. On Sunday, he went to DF Star Hospital where eight skin lesions were removed for testing. He was admitted again on Tuesday after experiencing vomiting and low blood pressure, but was released the following day. Medical tests revealed that two of the removed lesions contained early-stage cancer. Doctors said Bolsonaro will now require continuous clinical monitoring and regular evaluations.
Despite his legal troubles, Bolsonaro has continued to maintain that he is victim of political persecution. His supporters have also linked his health problems to the pressure he has faced since leaving office.
Last Thursday, a panel of Supreme Court justices found Bolsonaro guilty of trying to remain in power illegally after losing the 2022 election to current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. He received a sentence of 27 years and three months in prison. The ruling, however, will not be enforced immediately. The court has up to 60 days to publish the decision, after which Bolsonaro’s defense team will have five days to file appeals or motions for clarification.
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