Jailed former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has undergone a delicate nerve procedure to halt a nine-month siege of hiccups, temporarily leaving his prison cell for a hospital bed.

The 70-year-old populist, whose health has been a recurring headline since a 2018 stabbing incident, had his right phrenic nerve blocked on Saturday. The intervention highlights the fragile physical state of the once-powerful leader who is now serving a lengthy sentence for attempting to subvert Brazil’s democracy.

A Medical and Legal Labyrinth

The procedure follows a hernia operation Bolsonaro underwent last Wednesday. According to his wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, the former president has endured “nine months of struggle and anguish” due to the condition. Doctors have scheduled a follow-up procedure to block the left phrenic nerve within 48 hours.

For the Kenyan observer, the intersection of high-profile incarceration and medical privilege is a familiar narrative. Bolsonaro was granted specific authorization by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes to leave the federal police jail for these treatments. The medical context is specific:

• The Phrenic Nerve: A critical pathway originating in the neck that controls the diaphragm, the primary muscle used for breathing.
• The Timeline: Hospitalized Wednesday for hernia surgery; nerve block performed Saturday.
• The Outcome: He is expected to return immediately to custody upon discharge.

Dynastic Politics from Behind Bars

While his body battles hiccups, Bolsonaro’s political mind remains active. In a move that mirrors the dynastic succession often seen in Kenyan politics, the ex-president used his hospital stay to issue a significant political directive.

Bolsonaro officially endorsed his son, Flavio Bolsonaro, for the 2026 presidential bid. This endorsement comes as the elder Bolsonaro serves a 27-year sentence handed down in September for plotting a coup to overturn his 2022 election loss to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Once medically cleared, Bolsonaro will return to the stark reality of a federal police jail cell in Brasilia, trading the care of private specialists for the regimen of a convict.