Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro has been permitted to leave prison to undergo surgery on Christmas Day following approval from Brazil's Supreme Court, court documents show.
Bolsonaro is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup after he lost the last election in 2022.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes granted permission for Bolsonaro to temporarily leave prison and be transferred to a hospital for a hernia operation on December 25.
Bolsonaro, 70, has faced ongoing health complications since being stabbed in the abdomen during a 2018 presidential campaign.
In April, he underwent intestinal surgery, and by November, he was mandated to receive full-time medical care.
His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, posted a video to X urging people to keep praying for his father.
Despite Bolsonaro's challenges, tens of thousands have protested against a recent bill which could significantly reduce his prison time.
President Lula has promised to veto this bill, demonstrating the ongoing political strife surrounding Bolsonaro's legacy.
