Brazil's jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro on Thursday formally endorsed his son Flavio's bid for the 2026 presidential election, announcing his support from a hospital in Brasilia where he underwent hernia surgery.
In office from 2019 to 2022, Bolsonaro is a controversial figure, after pursuing hard‑right populist policies that his opponents claim undermined democratic institutions and targeted marginalized groups. He is currently in jail serving a 27‑year sentence for an attempted coup.
Flavio, the former president's son, read a handwritten letter declaring him a "pre-candidate" for the presidency.
"He [Flavio] represents the continuation of the path of prosperity that I began well before becoming president, as I believe we must restore the responsibility of leading Brazil with justice, resolve and loyalty to the aspirations of the Brazilian people," Bolsonaro wrote.
The letter, the former president's first public message in months, said he was committed to ensuring "the will of the people" was not silenced.
Flavio Bolsonaro added that the letter removes any lingering doubts about his father’s backing after he indicated support earlier in the month.
The read-out marks the formal launch of the younger Bolsonaro's 2026 presidential campaign, setting him up as the chosen successor to his father's political movement.
A senator from Rio de Janeiro since 2019, Flavio has said his campaign aims to preserve what he calls the "legacy" of his father's administration.
In Congress, he has focused on public security laws, backing measures to expand police powers and stiffen penalties for violent crime.
The 44-year-old has also supported economic liberalization initiatives aligned with the Bolsonaro government's agenda.
However, his father's backing quickly unsettled parts of Brazil's political and financial establishment, which had expected Bolsonaro to support a more experienced figure.
Doctors said the former president underwent a scheduled operation to repair an inguinal or, according to some reports, bilateral hernia.
The procedure, which lasted several hours, was described as successful and without complications.
His wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, who accompanied him to the hospital, said the surgery went well and that he was recovering under medical supervision.
Bolsonaro is expected to remain hospitalized for five to seven days, his medical team and local media said.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
The 70-year-old was temporarily released from prison to undergo the surgery. He has been held at Federal Police headquarters in Brasilia since late November, after previously spending several months under house arrest.
He is serving a sentence of more than 27 years after being convicted of attempting to overturn the 2022 election result and prevent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office.
Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes authorized the medical leave, with police stationed outside Bolsonaro's hospital room and restrictions on electronic devices in place.
The former leader has faced recurring health problems since surviving a stabbing during the 2018 election campaign, requiring multiple abdominal surgeries over the years.