Turkey’s Erdogan cancels election rallies after falling ill on live TV

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Turkey’s Erdogan cancels election rallies after falling ill on live TV

The Turkish president said he was forced to cancel rallies scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday on the advice of his doctor. 

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has canceled a series of upcoming election rallies after falling ill on live television and was forced to abruptly cut off the interview. 

Erdogan, 69, was interviewed live on Turkey’s Ulke TV and Kanal 7 stations late Tuesday when the broadcast abruptly ended. 

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attends a ceremony to mark the delivery of nuclear fuel to Turkey's Akkuyu nuclear power plant, which is being built by Russia, in Ankara, Turkey, April 27, 2023. (Murat Cetinmuhurdar/PPO/Handout via Reuters)

After the interview resumed around 20 minutes later, Erdogan explained that he had developed a serious "stomach flu" while campaigning and apologized for the interruption.  

"Today I will rest at home under the advice of our doctors," Erdogan tweeted. "With God’s permission, we will continue our program from tomorrow." 

Erdogan returned to the public spotlight on Thursday by inaugurating a nuclear power plant via video. The president looked pale sitting behind a desk surrounded by Cabinet members, aides, and political allies to president at the event. 

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Turkish officials denied online rumors that Erdogan, who underwent intestinal surgery in 2011, had suffered a serious illness and was hospitalized. 

FILE: Turkish President and leader of the Justice and Development Party Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a group meeting at the Turkish Grand National Assembly in Ankara on Jan. 18, 2023. (Adem Altan/AFP via Getty Images)

Erdogan, seeking a third term as president, has been campaigning hard as he faces an especially strong challenge in the May 14 election, attending several events per day. The latest opinion polls showed a slight lead for Erdogan's main challenger, center-left opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who is backed by the Nation Alliance, a grouping of six political parties.

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Erdogan was prime minister from 2003 to 2014 and has been president since then. He has been criticized for his increasingly authoritarian rule and handling of the economy and rampant inflation in recent years, as well as the earthquake.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.