Italian President Sergio Mattarella, who is the longest-serving president in Europe since the end of World War II, is said to be in a stable condition after receiving a pacemaker.
According to sources close to him on Wednesday, the 83-year-old underwent planned surgery at the Santo Spirito hospital in Rome on Monday evening.
A pacemaker is a small, battery-powered device implanted in the chest to help regulate the heart’s rhythm.
It sends electrical signals to the heart to correct slow or irregular heartbeats, ensuring the heart beats at a normal rate and pace.
It was initially unclear how long he would have to stay in hospital.
Mattarella has been in office since February 2015, making him one of the longest-serving heads of state in Europe.
He is the longest-serving president in his home country since the end of World War II.
He is considered to have considerable moral authority across party lines.
Italy has been ruled by a coalition of three far-right and conservative parties for two and a half years.
Before becoming president, Sicilian-born Mattarella served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies for 25 years, originally for the Christian Democrats and later for the Social Democrats.
He served as education minister in 1989 and 1990, and as defence minister from 1999 to 2001.
(dpa/NAN)
