Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has left intensive care following two surgical procedures to address bleeding in his skull.
The 79-year-old leader, however, remains hospitalised at São Paulo’s Sírio-Libanês Hospital under semi-intensive care.
In a statement issued on Friday, doctors reported that Lula is recovering well, describing him as “lucid, eating normally, and walking in the corridors.”
The president’s cognitive functions remain intact, and no brain damage was detected following the emergency surgery conducted earlier in the week.
The medical intervention began on Tuesday when doctors performed a two-hour operation to relieve pressure caused by bleeding between his brain and the protective meningeal membrane.
The injury was linked to an accidental fall at his presidential residence in October. On Thursday, a follow-up procedure was carried out to block blood flow to the affected area, reducing the risk of future complications. The drain used to remove blood was also successfully removed.
Although Lula is still in recovery, he has been managing some presidential responsibilities from the hospital. While visits are limited to family members, the president has been signing documents electronically and maintaining communication with officials.
Vice President Geraldo Alckmin has taken on part of Lula’s workload but has not been officially designated as acting president.
Doctors anticipate that Lula will be discharged early next week, allowing him to return to Brasília.
Despite the health scare, Lula resumed his duties quickly after the fall in October, hosting major events, including a G20 summit in Rio and a Mercosur meeting in Uruguay.
This medical episode adds to a history of health challenges for the president, who underwent treatment for throat cancer in 2011 and a hip replacement last year. His medical team remains optimistic, noting that with each passing week, the likelihood of complications diminishes.
