Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 79, is recovering in intensive care following a successful surgery to address a brain hemorrhage.
The operation, conducted at São Paulo’s Syrian-Lebanese Hospital, was prompted by a fall on October 19, where Lula hit his head in the bathroom of the presidential residence in Brasília, requiring stitches.
A follow-up imaging exam on Monday revealed the intracranial hemorrhage, leading to his transfer to São Paulo for a craniotomy to drain the hematoma.
The hospital confirmed that the procedure went smoothly, and Lula is closely monitored. A medical update is expected soon.
Following the accident, Lula had canceled plans to attend the BRICS summit in Russia, participating virtually instead, and missed the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan. Reflecting on the fall, Lula described it as “serious” but stated that no sensitive areas were affected.
Despite the setback, Lula has maintained an active agenda, including hosting the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro and welcoming Chinese President Xi Jinping in Brasília. Known for his resilience, he previously overcame throat cancer in 2011 and underwent a successful hip operation in September 2023 to address chronic pain.
Lula, president from 2003 to 2010, returned to power after defeating Jair Bolsonaro in the 2022 elections. While he has not confirmed plans to run for re-election in 2026, he remains optimistic about Brazil's political future.
“I want to live to 120,” Lula has often stated, emphasizing the importance of competence and health in leadership. He hoped for a new generation of capable leaders to drive political renewal in Brazil and beyond.
