• Jair Bolsonaro underwent a successful double hernia surgery in Brasilia.
• Bolsonaro endorsed his son Flávio as a presidential candidate for the 2026 elections.
• The former president is serving a 27-year prison sentence for coup plotting.
• Medical experts anticipate a 5 to 7-day recovery period for Bolsonaro in the hospital.
• Flávio aims to maintain his father's conservative legacy against President Lula.

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro successfully underwent a double hernia surgery on Thursday, a procedure that lasted approximately three hours at the DF Star Hospital in Brasilia. This operation was necessary due to pain caused by the hernia, and the medical team reported that it was completed without complications, allowing him to begin postoperative care including pain management and physical therapy, as stated by his doctors. Bolsonaro has been hospitalized since the previous day and was granted court permission to leave prison for this surgery, according to CBS News, Al Jazeera, and Reuters.

As Bolsonaro recuperated, he publicly endorsed his son, Flávio Bolsonaro, as the presidential candidate for the upcoming election in 2026. In a letter read outside the hospital, the former president expressed his commitment to ensure that his son's campaign would embody "the continuation of the path of prosperity" he initiated during his administration. Flávio is aiming to unseat current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is seeking re-election, as detailed by Los Angeles Times and BBC.

Bolsonaro currently serves a 27-year prison sentence for attempting to undermine Brazil's democratic process following his election loss to Lula in 2022. The Supreme Court authorized his surgery, although it rejected his request for house arrest post-recovery. His confinement has limited his contact with others, yet he maintains access to doctors and lawyers, according to South China Morning Post and CBS News.

Doctors noted that Bolsonaro's hospitalization might extend from five to seven days, during which additional procedures may be evaluated, including treatment for his recurrent hiccups, as mentioned by Los Angeles Times and Al Jazeera.