The president of Brazil was rushed to the Sírio-Libanês Hospital in São Paulo overnight for emergency brain surgery.
The 79-year-old Brazilian president underwent a craniotomy to drain a hematoma in his head after an MRI showed “intracranial bleeding”, according to a medical statement released by the Brazilian government.
His injury was the result of a fall at his home on Oct. 19, with him suffering from headaches, the note said.
However, according to the doctors, the operation was “smooth”, while Lula is now recovering “well” and is being monitored in the intensive care unit after the successful operation.
In intensive care for another 48 hours
Presidential spokesman Paulo Pimenta said in a radio interview that Lula will likely remain in the intensive care unit for another 48 hours, with his only contact with his medical team.
“He is stable, conscious and calm,” Pimenta said.
Concern about Lula’s health, questions about his possible successor
At the same time, concerns have grown about the health of the president, a standard-bearer of the Latin American left who returned to power for a third term last year on a promise to increase welfare spending and expand the role of the state.
Lula canceled his participation in the BRICS summit in Russia in October, citing health reasons. The surgery comes at a difficult time for his presidency, after Labour’s weak results in this year’s local elections highlighted the absence of a clear left-wing successor should he choose not to stand for re-election in 2026.
According to the Guardian, Lula was admitted to hospital in Brasilia on Monday night after complaining of for headache. After the bleeding was diagnosed he was taken south to one of Brazil’s top hospitals in Sao Paulo, where doctors operated on him.
