Veteran politician Marco Pannella, the leader of Italy's Radical party, was in good condition on Thursday following surgery to repair his abdominal aorta and will continue a hunger and thirst strike to protest against prison overcrowding.
The 83-year-old spoke about his condition in a video interview to the Radical party's radio and television from his room at Rome's Gemelli hospital where he is being treated.
Pannella, who spoke holding an extinguished cigar in his hand, has repeatedly endangered his health throughout the years with several hunger and thirst strikes to demand action on issues including civil rights and freedom of scientific research.
He was at the forefront of battles to legalise divorce and abortion in Italy in the 1970s.
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