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’s election campaigning with what he described as “stomach flu.”
Erdogan’s 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: “Oh wow.”
Erdogan returned about 15 minutes later and apologized.
“Yesterday and today were hard work. That’s why I got a stomach flu,” he said. “I ask for your and our audience’s forgiveness.”
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.
“Today I will rest at home under the advice of our doctors,” Erdogan said.
“With God’s permission, we will continue our program from tomorrow. On this occasion, I wish all my citizens health, peace and enjoyment.”
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’s 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.
