Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been discharged from hospital four days after being admitted for a blocked intestine, his wife confirmed. The 66-year-old far-right leader had suffered persistent hiccups for 10 days before seeking treatment.
Doctors treated the obstruction without surgery, and Bolsonaro vowed to return to his office on Monday. 'Only God can remove me from that chair,' he said upon leaving hospital, referring to the presidency. He added, 'I hope in 10 days I'll be eating barbecued ribs, eating anything.'
Concerns over Bolsonaro's health have persisted since he was stabbed in the intestines while campaigning in 2018, losing 40% of his blood. He has undergone several operations since.
The president also rejected recent corruption accusations against his former health minister over overpriced Covid-19 vaccine deals. The allegations are part of a congressional inquiry into Brazil's pandemic response, which has been heavily criticised for its lack of national coordination and Bolsonaro's scepticism toward vaccines and lockdowns.
Brazil has recorded over 500,000 Covid-19 deaths, the second-highest globally. Bolsonaro himself contracted the virus a year ago but has fully recovered.
