Alessandro Di Battista, former Italian deputy of the 5 Star Movement, remains sedated in intensive care at the Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital in Havana after undergoing emergency surgery on Sunday. According to close sources quoted by Corriere della Sera, he could stay in Cuba for up to four more weeks.
The Italian politician and journalist, who arrived on the island in late August to conduct reports, experienced a sudden illness while visiting the mausoleum of Che Guevara in Santa Clara and was urgently transferred to Havana, where he was hospitalized in serious condition.
His return to Italy, initially scheduled for September 5, had to be canceled when Di Battista experienced a sudden deterioration while being transported by ambulance to the airport.
The deterioration led to an emergency surgery at Hermanos Ameijeiras, the exact nature of which was not disclosed to the public, although the procedure was described as successful.
After the surgery, Di Battista was placed in intensive care and under sedation, a situation that continues this Monday.
Sources close to the politician indicated that he could remain in Cuba "for up to 30 days after the operation," which would put his potential return to Italy around October 6th.
The same sources conveyed the anguish of those close to the former congressman: "We are awaiting the evolution of events. We will see what happens at the end of the sedation period. We are on edge, as is natural: we all wish we had more information and, above all, the certainty that Alessandro can recover. For now, we are taking it step by step."
Italy had previously sent doctors from the Gemelli Hospital in Rome to assist the Cuban medical team in caring for the patient, although an official diagnosis has not been disclosed.
Italian media pointed to a possible neurological or vascular condition, although no source has formally confirmed it.
The association Schierarsi, of which Di Battista is vice president, requested discretion and to avoid speculation: "We encourage everyone to exercise caution. This is a delicate phase."
The case has generated intense media coverage in Italy, with messages of solidarity from political figures across different parties, while the former deputy's return to his country is completely contingent on the evolution of his health condition.
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