Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan canceled three scheduled campaign appearances less than a month before high-stakes elections after falling ill during a live television interview.
Broadcasting was disrupted for several minutes on Tuesday evening after Erdogan, 69, became sick with what he said was stomach flu.
In power for the past two decades, Erdogan has developed a reputation as a tireless strongman who rarely cancels events, so the sudden and public nature of the incident initially shocked viewers. But his aides have since said the president was in good health and would resume his regular schedule after taking a day’s rest.
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Erdogan is facing his toughest election since taking power in 2003, with an alliance of six opposition parties joining forces to unseat him as Turks struggle with the worst cost-of-living crisis in two decades.
The opposition alliance has chosen Kemal Kilicdaroglu, 74, as its joint presidential contender in the May 14 vote. Kilicdaroglu wished Erdogan a quick recovery in a post on Twitter.