Diagnosis revealed on television

Former Five Star Movement lawmaker Alessandro Di Battista announced on Tuesday evening that he recently underwent emergency surgery to remove a brain tumor. Speaking via video link on the La7 programme diMartedì, hosted by Giovanni Floris, Di Battista confirmed the diagnosis for the first time following weeks of recovery after his sudden hospitalization abroad. He explained that physicians identified a cerebral edema caused by a brain tumor while he was on a reporting assignment in Havana. Surgeons successfully removed almost the entire mass before his medical evacuation to Italy. Di Battista told viewers that he is currently undergoing medical therapy at home while maintaining a positive outlook.

“In Cuba I began to feel ill due to a cerebral edema caused by the presence of a tumor that was found. They immediately got the treatment right to reduce the edema, allowing them to operate on me, and they removed almost all of the tumor. Now I will undergo treatment hoping it works.”

Hospitalization and emergency surgery timeline

Di Battista fell ill on 28 August during a visit to Cuba, where he had traveled to produce reportage on the country's economic conditions. He was admitted to the Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico Hermanos Ameijeiras in Havana, where medical staff diagnosed the edema and initiated stabilizing therapy. Although he was initially scheduled to fly back to Italy on 5 September, his condition deteriorated rapidly, prompting an immediate surgical intervention. Following the operation, his recovery allowed him to return to Italy on 12 September aboard an air ambulance. After additional medical monitoring in hospital, he was discharged to his home on 18 September.

Reaction to treatment and recovery stance

During his broadcast appearance and in a post on his Substack newsletter Scomode Verità, Di Battista shared a photograph with the medical personnel who treated him on the nineteenth floor of the Havana hospital. He explicitly rejected common battle metaphors associated with serious illnesses, stating that medical professionals carry the primary burden of treatment. Di Battista noted that he is focusing on following medical instructions and adopting healthy daily routines. He also commended the conduct of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her government throughout the emergency repatriation process. In addition, television journalist Sigfrido Ranucci disclosed that Di Battista had sent him a supportive text message during the ordeal.

“I reject the rhetoric of stay strong warrior, do not give up: I have to undergo treatment, lead the healthiest life possible, and keep a positive attitude. Those who must not give up are the doctors, rather than myself.”

Political statements on Cuba and the embargo

In his written reflections on Substack and during his television remarks, Di Battista praised Cuban healthcare workers for their professionalism despite severe resource constraints. He stated that the island faces acute shortages, including power blackouts, insufficient fuel for ambulances, and water deficits in local hospitals. Di Battista attributed these economic conditions to the United States trade embargo instituted in 1962 under John F. Kennedy following the Bay of Pigs invasion. He affirmed that he plans to resume writing and reporting on international topics, including Cuba and the Palestinian territories, as his physical recovery continues.