Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was released from hospital on Sunday after undergoing surgery to stop a brain haemorrhage.
The 79-year-old president spoke with doctors during a press conference on Sunday morning that he was doing well after the main operation.
“I live here, well, with the urge to work. And I’ll tell you something I always said during the campaign. I’m 79 years old, I have the energy of 30 and the enthusiasm of 20 to build this country,” said Lula.
Lula’s medical team said the operation went well and Lula will be able to walk and hold meetings at his home in the city of Sao Paulo until Thursday.
Eraldo Peres/AP
The leader’s doctors said international travel has been ruled out until further notice, but he could travel to the country’s capital, Brasilia, if all goes well according to a medical examination.
The president also gave his first comments on Saturday’s arrest of General Walter Braga Netto, a former member of President Jair Bolsonaro’s government and his 2022 running mate, in connection with investigations in an alleged coup plot. Lula has largely avoided commenting on the case due to ongoing investigations.
“It is not possible for us to accept disrespect for democracy, disrespect for the constitution. And it is not possible for us to accept that in a generous country like Brazil we have people of high military rank plotting the death of a president, his vice president. president and a president of the Supreme Electoral Court,” Lula said.
Braga Netto was indicted in November, along with Bolsonaro and 35 others, on charges of plotting a coup to keep Bolsonaro in power after his failed 2022 re-election bid.
Prosecutors have not yet filed formal charges against Braga Netto. His arrest was related to charges of obstructing evidence collection, federal police said in a statement.
