Former Brazil President's wife declared brain dead

The wife of Brazil’s embattled former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was declared brain dead on Thursday, doctors in Sao Paulo said.

“An absence of blood flow in the brain was identified,” doctors at the Sirio-Libanes hospital said.

The family of Marisa Leticia Lula da Silva, 66, had authorized the donation of her organs and “procedures were begun for the donation,” the hospital said in a statement.

Lula’s family issued a statement thanking supporters for “all the expressions of sympathy and solidarity.”

Da Silva had been hospitalized since January 24 with a brain haemorrhage due to a ruptured brain aneurism.

A minute of silence was held in the lower house of Congress in the capital of Brasilia. Da Silva whose husband is universally known as Lula — was first lady from 2003 to 2010.

Although Lula left power with sky high ratings and taking credit for Brazil’s economic boom, his legacy has been badly tarnished by a subsequent recession and a string of corruption charges last year in which his wife was also indicted.

Both Lula and his wife denied any wrongdoing.