Brazil Supreme Court Rejects Bolsonaro’s Request for House Arrest

Haitian Prime News

January 1, 2026

Brasília, Brazil

Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court on Thursday rejected a request by former president Jair Bolsonaro to serve his prison sentence under house arrest, ruling that his medical condition does not justify a change in detention.

The decision was issued by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who stated that Bolsonaro’s health issues can be adequately treated within the federal detention system. Bolsonaro’s legal team had argued that recent health complications following surgery warranted house arrest on humanitarian grounds.

In his ruling, Justice Moraes said medical reports presented to the court did not demonstrate a level of severity that would prevent continued incarceration. The judge also pointed to previous violations of court-imposed restrictions as a factor weighing against granting more lenient detention conditions.

Bolsonaro is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence following convictions related to efforts to undermine Brazil’s democratic order after the 2022 presidential election. The case has been overseen by the Supreme Federal Court, which has taken a firm stance on accountability for actions deemed to threaten the rule of law.

With Thursday’s decision, Bolsonaro will remain in federal custody once cleared by doctors for discharge from medical supervision. His lawyers have not yet announced whether they will pursue further appeals.

The ruling reinforces the court’s position that claims of ill health must meet strict legal and medical standards before detention conditions are altered, particularly in high-profile cases involving crimes against democratic institutions.