Brazilian president Bolsonaro diagnosed with skin cancer, exacerbating his health concerns
In a shocking turn of events, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been diagnosed with skin cancer. The diagnosis was made by Bolsonaro's doctor, Claudio Birolini, on Wednesday.
Bolsonaro, who served a single term from 2019 to 2022, has been under house arrest at his residence in Brasilia since his conviction last week. He was found guilty of leading an attempted coup to prevent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, his leftist rival, from taking office.
The high-profile trial further drove a wedge between Brasilia and US President Donald Trump, with Trump criticizing the judicial process as a "witch hunt." Trump has also slapped a 50-percent tariff on many Brazilian imports and imposed sanctions against top officials. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said further US action could be expected to pressure Brazil over Bolsonaro's conviction.
The plot included the assassination of Lula, his vice president Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes. However, the plan to overthrow Lula's government failed due to a lack of support from military top brass.
Bolsonaro has had multiple health issues and operations in recent years due to complications following a 2018 stabbing. His health issues include violent bouts of hiccups, vomiting, and low blood pressure. If his appeal is unsuccessful, Bolsonaro could ask to serve his sentence at home for health reasons.
During his judicial process, Bolsonaro reported multiple health woes and missed the verdict phase of his trial. Bolsonaro, along with seven co-accused, was found guilty of plotting to prevent Lula from taking office.
Bolsonaro has long claimed he is the victim of political persecution. He was sentenced to 27 years in prison for the conviction. If his appeal is unsuccessful, it remains to be seen how Bolsonaro will address his skin cancer diagnosis while under house arrest.
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