Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer, amid a wave of legal challenges that include a 27-year prison sentence for “crimes against democracy.”
Bolsonaro’s medical team confirmed on Wednesday that two of eight skin lesions removed during a recent procedure tested positive for the cancer, which is considered an intermediate type of skin malignancy. Despite his fragile health, the 70-year-old was discharged from DF Star Hospital in Brasília following treatment for vomiting, dizziness, low blood pressure, and presyncope.
Bolsonaro has been under house arrest since August, barred from speaking publicly or using electronic devices by order of Supreme Federal Tribunal (STF) Justice Alexandre de Moraes. His detention is under heavy scrutiny, as supporters claim it is part of a political campaign against him.
In addition to cancer, Bolsonaro is reportedly suffering from anemia, pneumonia, high blood pressure, and gastrointestinal issues. His medical team noted he would require ongoing follow-up and reassessment.
Legal tensions intensified further this week after a federal court fined Bolsonaro for “recreational racism” over a comment made to a supporter, despite the individual in question not filing a complaint. The timing of the charges, combined with the controversial 27-year sentence handed down by the STF for an alleged “coup plot,” has intensified claims of political persecution.
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and former President Donald Trump have both condemned Bolsonaro’s treatment. Trump recently imposed a 50-percent tariff on Brazilian imports and sanctioned Justice de Moraes under the Global Magnitsky Act, citing human rights abuses.
Concerns have also surfaced regarding Bolsonaro’s potential transfer to the Papuda Prison Complex, a maximum-security facility in Brasília. Allies warn that Bolsonaro’s poor health may not withstand such conditions, and some fear his imprisonment there could lead to fatal consequences.
Supporters continue to gather outside hospitals and his residence, waving Brazilian, American, and Israeli flags and denouncing what they view as judicial overreach and political retribution.
