Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva underwent emergency surgery in São Paulo to drain a brain bleed caused by a fall in October, Reuters reports.
Lula, 79, remains in the intensive care unit but is stable and conscious, according to government officials. Doctors described the operation as successful, and Lula is expected to stay in the ICU for at least 48 hours with restricted contact. The incident comes after Lula sustained a head injury after a fall at home, which initially required stitches. However, he recently experienced worsening headaches during a meeting, prompting a hospital visit where an MRI scan detected an intracranial hemorrhage.
Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin will temporarily take over Lula’s responsibilities while he is in the hospital. Health concerns have emerged about Lula, who is midway through his third term as president, and raised questions about the future of his Workers Party, especially with no clear successor and following poor municipal election results.
