Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Thursday announced his support for his son Flavio Bolsonaro’s 2026 presidential candidacy while recovering from a planned hernia operation, which doctors said went smoothly.

Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes authorised Bolsonaro to leave prison, where he is serving a 27-year sentence, for the surgery. Police were instructed to remain outside his room, and access to computers and mobile phones was prohibited.

44-year-old Senator Flavio Bolsonaro aims to succeed leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the October 4 election and continue his father’s conservative legacy.

In a letter read by Flavio at the hospital in Brasilia, Jair Bolsonaro said: “With the commitment of not allowing the popular will to be silenced, I make the decision to nominate Flavio Bolsonaro as a pre-candidate for the presidency in 2026.”

The 70-year-old former leader has faced multiple health issues since surviving a near-fatal stabbing during the 2018 campaign and has undergone more than half a dozen abdominal surgeries over the years.

Thursday’s operation lasted around three hours and was described by Dr Claudio Birolini as expected and uneventful. Bolsonaro is expected to remain in hospital for five to seven days.

Doctors also noted that he might undergo a separate procedure to address his recurring hiccups, with a decision to be made after reassessment on Monday.

The ex-president was detained in late November, deemed a flight risk, and began serving his 27-year sentence shortly thereafter.

Flavio Bolsonaro confirmed this month that his father supports his 2026 presidential bid, a move that unsettled markets which had anticipated support for a more seasoned candidate, such as São Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas.

The cancellation of a planned interview on Tuesday, where Jair Bolsonaro was expected to formally announce his endorsement, contributed to the Brazilian real strengthening by nearly 1% against the dollar.

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