Brazil’s Lula rushed to Sao Paulo for brain surgery, stable in ICU

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was rushed to São Paulo overnight for emergency surgery for a brain hemorrhage caused by a fall in October, according to medical records released by the Brazilian government on Tuesday.

The surgery was a success, and Lula, 79, is “doing well” and being monitored in the intensive care unit, the memo said. Doctors are scheduled to hold a press conference at 9 a.m. local time (12 noon GMT) to explain the details.

There are growing health concerns about the aging president, a standard-bearer for Latin America’s left, who is halfway through his third non-consecutive term.

Lula has not been traveling in recent months, but doctors have been monitoring his recovery from injuries to the back of his head when he fell at home in late October and required stitches.

During a meeting with parliamentary leaders on Monday evening, Lula complained of a worsening headache and ended the meeting to go to a hospital in Brasilia, according to a presidential official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Lula underwent an MRI scan that revealed an intracranial hemorrhage and was transferred to São Paulo for surgery at Sirio Libanes Hospital.

In late October, Lula fell at home and suffered a small brain hemorrhage and an injury to the back of her head that required stitches.

Tests in early November showed his condition was stable and Lula remained active, having recently traveled to Montevideo to discuss the Mercosur trade deal.

The president’s injuries forced him to cancel his trip to Russia to attend the BRICS Group of Emerging Markets summit in Kazan after doctors advised him to temporarily avoid long-haul flights.

Brazil’s Labor Minister Luis Marinho was one of the first politicians to wish Lula a speedy and full recovery on social media platform X.