Jair Bolsonaro undergoes 12-hour intestinal surgery in Brasilia

Brazil’s former president recovers after marathon operation for complications tied to 2018 stabbing.

A view of the entrance to the DF Star private clinic, where former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro was transferred the night before to continue medical treatment, in Brasília on April 13, 2025. Photo by Mateus Bonomi/AFP

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Brazil's former president, Jair Bolsonaro, underwent a complex and lengthy operation in Brasilia on Sunday to address severe abdominal complications resulting from the 2018 stabbing attack that nearly took his life. The Jair Bolsonaro intestinal surgery lasted over 12 hours and was declared successful by both his medical team and his wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, who shared the outcome with supporters online.

This latest health scare is being described as one of Bolsonaro’s most serious post-presidency episodes and stems from the long-term consequences of the life-threatening stabbing incident that occurred during his 2018 election campaign. The 70-year-old ex-leader was flown to the capital from Natal, where he had been admitted to a local hospital after experiencing what he described as “unbearable pain.”

A long and delicate surgery

According to a statement released by the DF Star Hospital in Brasilia, Bolsonaro underwent a laparotomy, a surgical procedure involving an incision in the abdominal wall. The goal was to treat intestinal adhesions—bands of internal scar tissue that form between organs—and to reconstruct the abdominal wall, which has been compromised by years of repeated procedures.

"Operation finished with success!" wrote Michelle Bolsonaro on Instagram, thanking those who prayed for her husband’s recovery. Her post came more than 11 hours after the procedure began, offering relief to the small crowd of supporters waiting outside the hospital for updates.

A medical bulletin from the hospital confirmed that the operation was completed without complications. No blood transfusion was needed, and doctors were pleased with the results of the marathon surgery.

Supporters rally, health issues persist

While the former president was in surgery, a group of about a dozen supporters gathered outside the hospital in a quiet show of solidarity. Among them was 84-year-old Maurilio Borges Bernardes, a businessman wearing a shirt in Brazil’s national colors and a cap adorned with Bolsonaro’s picture. “He’ll pull through, I’m sure,” Bernardes said, holding a crucifix and expressing his belief in Bolsonaro’s resilience.

Bolsonaro’s intestinal problems are part of a long trail of medical complications stemming from the stabbing incident in 2018. At the time, he was attacked while campaigning in a crowd and was rushed to emergency surgery. The attacker was later found to be mentally ill and was institutionalized.

Though Bolsonaro recovered enough to win the presidency that year, the internal damage caused by the stabbing has lingered, requiring multiple surgeries and hospitalizations over the years. Bolsonaro himself has acknowledged the severity of the issue. On Saturday, he posted on X (formerly Twitter), calling this latest health crisis “the most serious situation since the attack that nearly cost my life.”

From Natal to Brasilia: an escalating condition

Initially, doctors in Natal, where Bolsonaro was hospitalized during a tour of the Rio Grande do Norte state, said that surgery would not be necessary. However, further testing on Sunday morning revealed that the intestinal blockage was not responding to clinical treatment. As a result, a team of doctors in Brasilia agreed unanimously to proceed with the surgical intervention.

“New tests revealed the persistence of the intestinal blockage,” the hospital reported. “That is why the medical teams opted, by common agreement, for the surgical intervention.”

Digestive tract surgeon Camila Beltrão, not involved in the operation, explained that such procedures require extreme care. “These operations are delicate because you need to have the patience to undo each adhesion,” she told AFP.

Political backdrop and legal troubles

This health development comes amid growing legal troubles for Bolsonaro. Just two weeks ago, Brazil’s Supreme Court formally opened a case against him, accusing the former president of attempting to cling to power in 2022 despite losing the runoff election to leftist rival Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Prosecutors allege that Bolsonaro worked with close allies, including government ministers and high-ranking military officials, to orchestrate a plan to reject the election results. As a result of previous legal proceedings, Bolsonaro has already been barred from running for public office until 2030 due to his unproven claims against the country’s electronic voting system.

Still, Bolsonaro has held out hope that the sentence might be overturned or reduced, leaving open the possibility of participating in future elections. His health, however, may prove to be a bigger obstacle than the courts.

A political stage shaped by health and uncertainty

Bolsonaro’s latest health crisis unfolds as current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also grapples with his own health concerns. The 79-year-old leftist underwent emergency surgery in December to stop a brain bleed following a serious fall. Lula has not confirmed whether he will run for reelection, and his popularity has been declining amid economic difficulties, including stubborn inflation.

This sets the stage for a tense and uncertain political climate in Brazil. While Bolsonaro’s political future remains tied up in the courts and his health, his loyal base continues to stand by him—hoping that recovery from this most recent health ordeal might pave the way for a comeback.

A history marked by physical and political scars

The Jair Bolsonaro intestinal surgery adds another chapter to the former president’s turbulent story. From his near-death stabbing in 2018 to his controversial presidency and now his ongoing legal battles and health crises, Bolsonaro remains a polarizing figure in Brazil’s public life.

While his supporters pray for his health and hope for his return to the political arena, critics question whether a leader burdened by so many legal and physical setbacks can effectively re-enter national politics. What remains clear is that the consequences of that 2018 attack still follow Bolsonaro—both in the operating room and in the courtroom.

And as he recovers from yet another surgery, Jair Bolsonaro’s future—politically and physically—remains uncertain, but far from irrelevant in the evolving Brazilian narrative.