Brazil Court Grants Bolsonaro House Arrest for Health Reasons

In Brasilia, Brazil, on March 24, 2026, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes granted former President Jair Bolsonaro permission to serve his 27-year prison sentence under house arrest due to deteriorating health, following his recent hospitalization for pneumonia.

Bolsonaro, 71, has been incarcerated since November 2025 on charges including leading an armed criminal organization and attempting to violently abolish the democratic rule of law. The conviction stemmed from his role in plotting a coup after losing the 2022 presidential election to incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. He governed Brazil from 2019 to 2022 and has denied any wrongdoing throughout the legal proceedings.

The decision marks a reversal for de Moraes, who had previously denied multiple requests from Bolsonaro's lawyers for humanitarian house arrest. Earlier rejections cited concerns over flight risk and the adequacy of medical care in custody. Bolsonaro was transferred in January 2026 from federal police headquarters to a larger cell at the Papuda penitentiary. On March 13, he fell ill while in detention and was admitted to the DF Star hospital in Brasilia. He spent several days in intensive care...