Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan postponed a video appearance at an event on Thursday after he fell ill during a live TV interview earlier this week.
(Bloomberg) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan postponed a video appearance at an event on Thursday after he fell ill during a live TV interview earlier this week.
Erdogan was set to attend an event for a nuclear plant by broadcast at 1.30 p.m. local time on Thursday. He will now appear via video at 4 p.m., according to a statement from the presidency. It gave no further details.
Turkey’s Erdogan Cancels More Events Over Illness During TV Spot
Erdogan, who is facing his toughest election race since taking power in 2003, has remained out of public view since a TV interview late Tuesday during which he was suddenly taken ill with what he described as an upset stomach.
The Turkish president had already canceled his visit to the $20 billion Akkuyu power plant project on Thursday over health concerns. The plant is being built by Russia in Turkey’s Mediterranean province of Mersin. Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to also attend by video link.
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Erdogan’s been on the campaign trail ahead of elections where he’ll face an alliance of six opposition parties joining forces to unseat him.
He’s expected to use the nuclear power plant ceremony to bolster support among voters who back the Turkish leader’s “strongman” image and close ties with the Kremlin ruler. He abandoned a plan to visit Mersin for the event on the advice of doctors, an official with direct knowledge said, asking not to be identified.
–With assistance from Firat Kozok.
(Updates starting in first paragraph with new developments)
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