The former leader of the Five Star Movement remains admitted to Hermanos Ameijeiras and there is still no new date for his repatriation
14ymedio/ Agencies, Havana, September 5, 2026 / The former Italian deputy Alessandro Di Battista underwent surgery in Havana after suffering a new health setback that forced the postponement of his return to Italy, initially planned for this Friday and later for this Saturday. The politician, known as the Italian Che, remains admitted to the Hermanos Ameijeiras hospital and, for the time being, there is no new date for his repatriation.
The operation was confirmed this Saturday by the Italian news agency Ansa, which noted that the operation forced the transfer to be delayed. The Schierarsi association, of which Di Battista is vice president, limited itself to stating that his return had been postponed and asked for “maximum discretion and caution” when disseminating information about his health status.
“Alessandro Di Battista’s return to Italy, planned for today, has been postponed,” the organization reported. “We ask everyone to maintain maximum discretion and caution in disseminating information, while awaiting further updates.”
According to what was explained at the time, the costs of the transfer would be covered by the travel insurance he had taken out before traveling to Cuba
Di Battista has been hospitalized since last August 28, when he suffered a severe episode while in Santa Clara, where he was preparing a series of reports on Cuba. After initially being treated in that province, he was transferred to Hermanos Ameijeiras, in Havana.
The situation seemed to have evolved favorably in recent days. The former leader of the Five Star Movement himself had reported last Wednesday that he was feeling “much better” and announced that he would leave the island on September 4 aboard an air ambulance. According to what was explained at the time, the costs of the transfer would be covered by the travel insurance he had taken out before traveling to Cuba.
The departure, however, was first postponed and ultimately suspended following the surgical procedure.
The Italian press still offers few details about what forced doctors to operate on the politician. Ansa does not report the type of surgery or provide a precise diagnosis. According to information gathered by the newspaper Corriere della Sera, the former deputy reportedly suffered a stroke in Santa Clara. After regaining consciousness, he was transferred by ambulance to Havana, where he remained awake throughout the trip and underwent a contrast CT scan at the Hermanos Ameijeiras hospital. Cuban doctors then advised against his transfer to Italy, considering that such a long trip could pose risks to his health.
A medical team from the Gemelli polyclinic in Rome traveled to Cuba to collaborate with specialists from Hermanos Ameijeiras and assess the conditions under which Di Battista could be transferred to Italy
The case has also mobilized Italian doctors. A medical team from the Gemelli polyclinic in Rome traveled to Cuba to collaborate with specialists from Hermanos Ameijeiras and assess the conditions under which Di Battista could be transferred to Italy. Ansa notes that the Italian professionals worked alongside the Cuban medical team.
The former deputy, 48, had arrived in Cuba to work on a series of reports for Il Fatto Quotidiano and its audiovisual branch, TvLoft. His hospitalization interrupted the trip while he was in the center of the country.
In his first messages after being admitted, Di Battista praised the care received from Cuban doctors and conveyed an optimistic picture of his recovery. The announcement that he would travel by air ambulance reinforced the impression that the most delicate phase was behind him.
The new postponement and, above all, the news of the surgery now show that his condition has required more complex care than was initially known.
Translated by GH
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