Health alert as Erdogan cuts short TV interview

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been campaigning tirelessly to reverse a dip in polls and extend his two-decade election winning streak. (Presidential Press Office via Reuters)
Short Url
  • Leader鈥檚 announcement comes in the heat of a hard-fought campaign in what is widely viewed as Turkiye鈥檚 most important election of its post-Ottoman era

JEDDAH: There were fears for the health of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday after he cut short a live TV interview and then canceled a day鈥檚 election campaigning with what he described as 鈥渟tomach flu.鈥�

Erdogan鈥檚 TV appearance on Tuesday began more than 90 minutes behind schedule, and after 10 minutes it went to a commercial break in the middle of a question.

As the broadcast cut off, an unidentified voice off camera said: 鈥淥h wow.鈥�

Erdogan returned about 15 minutes later and apologized.

鈥淵esterday and today were hard work. That鈥檚 why I got a stomach flu,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 ask for your and our audience鈥檚 forgiveness.鈥�

Ashen faced, the president ended the program a few minutes later.

The president then canceled three election campaign appearances in the central Anatolian provinces planned for Wednesday, and Vice President Fuat Oktay took his place.

鈥淭oday I will rest at home under the advice of our doctors,鈥� Erdogan said.

鈥淲ith God鈥檚 permission, we will continue our program from tomorrow. On this occasion, I wish all my citizens health, peace and enjoyment.鈥�

Erdogan, 69, had gastrointestinal in surgery in 2012 but has otherwise enjoyed robust health.

His new health issues come in the middle of a hard-fought campaign for votes on May 14 in what is widely viewed as Turkiye鈥檚 most important election of the post-Ottoman era.

Erdogan has been campaigning tirelessly to extend his two-decade election winning streak, but polls show him slightly behind opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu.