President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva returns today to the Planalto Palace, the official workplace of the Brazilian Presidency in Brasilia, after undergoing two head surgeries in December.

After the surgeries in a private hospital in Sao Paulo, the president concentrated his activities at the Alvorada Palace, the official residence of the heads of the executive branch in the capital, and at the Torto Farm, the presidential country house.

Although far from the Planalto, the president did not take time away from his presidential duties during the recovery period.

On his return, Lula will have to focus on two main issues: the confrontation over parliamentary amendments and the discussion on a possible ministerial reform.

The lack of acquiescence between the Supreme Federal Court (STF) and the National Congress regarding legislative revisions, which has been dragging on since August, remains on the agenda.

There was no agreement on the rules for the application of resources and in the last days of last year STF minister Flávio Dino suspended all transfers, despite the legislature.

Lula was medically discharged in Sao Paulo on 15 December after needing to undergo surgery to contain an intracranial haemorrhage.

He was allowed to return to his home in that territorial division to continue receiving close clinical follow-up.

According to the staff of professionals who accompanied him, the former trade unionist would not have any physical or neurological sequelae.

The ex-worker leader felt a headache and indisposition in the late afternoon of 9 December and was admitted to an exclusive health centre in Brasilia.

This was due to the blow he suffered to his head after falling in October in one of the bathrooms at the Alvorada, which caused an injury to the back of his head.

After imaging tests in the capital, it was found that surgery was necessary and he was transferred to the Sirio-Libanês hospital in Sao Paulo. There, he underwent emergency surgery, which was performed without complications.

He underwent two medical interventions, on 10 and 12 December, as well as a third procedure to remove a drain from his head.

A little over a year ago, in September 2023, the progressive leader underwent a total arthroplasty of the right hip, a surgery to replace, with a prosthesis, the worn cartilage in that region of the body.

When the procedure was completed after one calendar year, he underwent revision examinations.