Lula's hospitalization raises questions about what lies ahead

(Bloomberg) -- President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's emergency surgery earlier this week led the country to face a hitherto secondary issue, but one that quickly and forcefully moved to the forefront: is the 79-year-old leader fit? for the task of leading Latin America's largest economy?

Lula's doctors said he is recovering and should return to Brasília early next week, while downplaying the seriousness of the procedures resulting from an accidental fall in the bathroom at the Palácio da Alvorada almost two months ago.

Lula was already facing a series of challenges in his third term, such as the acceleration of inflation, the progressive increase in the basic interest rate and the possible economic and political difficulties wi...
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