ARAB AND WORLD
Wed 26 Apr 2023 1:24 pm - Jerusalem Time
Erdogan cancels his activities scheduled for Wednesday due to illness
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that he would cancel his campaign activities scheduled for Wednesday, after suffering from stomach flu, less than a month before the presidential elections in Turkey.
"Today (Wednesday) I will rest at home on the advice of our doctors," Erdogan, 69, wrote on his official Twitter account.
On Tuesday, Erdogan cut off a live television interview before returning to apologize, speaking of his stomach flu.
The Turkish leader is campaigning tirelessly in an effort ahead of presidential and legislative elections on May 14, the results of which seem inconclusive.
Erdogan and the Justice and Development Party have dominated Turkish politics for 20 years. But the current election campaign is one of the biggest challenges for the outgoing president, as opinion polls show that the competition will be intense between him and Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
Erdogan was scheduled to end the evening with a direct joint interview with Ulke and Kanal 7. He started his television appearance after a delay of more than 90 minutes, and then cut it off after ten minutes when he was asked a question.
Erdogan returned 15 minutes later and apologized, saying he had fallen ill.
He explained, "Yesterday and today there was a lot of work. Because of that, I got stomach flu. For a moment, I wondered if I canceled the meeting, would it be misunderstood. But we had made a promise. I ask your forgiveness and your audience."
Erdogan's face looked tired and his eyes watered as he spoke. The Turkish leader then answered a few more questions before the meeting ended.
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Erdogan cancels his activities scheduled for Wednesday due to illness