Brazil extends Jair Bolsonaro's home arrest amid health improvement

A Brazilian Supreme Court judge, Alexandre de Moraes, extended the home detention of former president Jair Bolsonaro on July 4. The judge cited Bolsonaro’s "clinical improvement" from pneumonia and other health issues, deeming the continuation of his humanitarian house arrest "reasonable, adequate and proportionate".

Bolsonaro, 71, is serving a 27‑year prison sentence for his role in an attempted coup after the 2022 election loss. He has been confined to his residence in Brasília since March, following an initial 90‑day house‑arrest period. A recent incident in June, when a Glock 9 mm pistol was seized from one of his escorts, led the court to order the seizure of all his registered firearms and to bar him from possessing any weapons. No additional penalty was imposed for the firearm episode.

The decision maintains Bolsonaro’s confinement while his health continues to recover, keeping the legal and political ramifications of his conviction in effect.