SAO PAULO (AP) – The health status of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has shown improvement regarding his kidney function, however, he remains in an intensive care unit due to pneumonia. This update was provided by the DF Star Hospital in Brasilia, where Bolsonaro is currently receiving treatment.

The 70-year-old ex-president has been placed on additional antibiotics starting from Saturday, as revealed in a statement from his medical team. Bolsonaro was admitted to the hospital on a Friday, after being transferred from the prison where he is serving a 27-year sentence. His imprisonment follows his conviction for leading a coup attempt in 2023, a situation that has further complicated his health and legal circumstances.

Since his conviction, Bolsonaro has faced significant challenges. He was moved from his previous confinement at the local federal police headquarters to a larger cell in January. His family and political allies have made several appeals to Brazil’s Supreme Court, requesting that he be permitted to serve his sentence under house arrest instead of in prison.

Bolsonaro’s political career, which spanned from 2019 to 2022, was marked by controversy, including previous health crises. Notably, he has been hospitalized multiple times as a result of being stabbed at a campaign event ahead of the 2018 presidential election, which had lasting effects on his health. His recent hospitalization was due to notably high fever, chills, and sweating, along with raised inflammatory markers identified by hospital staff.

In the context of his family’s political ambitions, Bolsonaro's son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who currently serves as a senator, is anticipated to enter the presidential race later this year. He will be competing against the incumbent president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, aiming to secure the presidency for the right-wing faction in Brazil.

Jair Bolsonaro's legal troubles extend beyond the coup attempt. He has been convicted on multiple charges, which include leading an armed criminal organization and attempting to violently overthrow the democratic rule of law, charges that he has consistently denied. The political landscape in Brazil remains volatile, with Bolsonaro's health and legal issues casting a shadow over his past presidency and impending political developments.

As developments unfold regarding Bolsonaro's health and ongoing legal battles, the implications for Brazilian politics, especially with the approaching presidential election, remain critical to watch.