Hamdi Firat BuyukSarajevoBIRNApril 27, 202311:23Following a health scare in a live TV interview, the Turkish Presidential Office has denied claims that the country’s strongman suffered a heart attack and was hospitalised.
A woman shows her child a picture of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul, 18 January 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE/ERDEM SAHIN
Following a health scare broadcasted live, the Turkish Presidency’s Communications Directorate has refuted claims that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suffered a heart attack.
“We categorically reject such baseless claims regarding President Erdogan’s health,” Fahrettin Altun, President of the Communications Directorate under the Presidency, wrote on Wednesday night.
The Centre for Countering Disinformation under the Presidency also wrote on Wednesday night: “Claims stating that President Erdogan suffered a heart attack, and he was hospitalised, are untrue.”
Erdogan’s aides confirmed only that he is unwell due to a cold he got during the busy election campaign.
“Our President will attend the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant ceremony, which is planned to be held tomorrow, online. Our Mersin rally is planned to be held at a later date,” Erkan Kandemir, Vice President of Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party, AKP, said on Wednesday night.
In addition to cancelling the opening ceremony of the nuclear plant and a rally in Mersin, President Erdogan cancelled several other events, as well as a TV interview on Thursday.
Only 17 days before critical presidential and parliamentary elections, Erdogan caused alarm when he appeared to suffer a major health scare during a live TV interview.
Thousands of viewers who watched the interview saw Ulke TV’s editor-in-chief Hasan Ozturk pause mid-question and rise from his chair in alarm as a voice off-camera exclaimed: “God help us,” before an ad break.
No cameras were on the President as the moment unfolded, causing many to speculate about whether Erdogan had a heart attack or an epileptic crisis.
Following a break, Erdogan returned to the interview with a grim face saying that he had got a cold, and the interview was kept shorter than planned.
“Today I will rest at home on the advice of my doctors,” Erdogan wrote on Twitter on Wednesday, but the cancellations of events continued.
Known for his endless-seeming energy and vigorous election campaigns, 69-year-old Erdogan has ruled the country for 21 years, first as Prime Minister and later as President.
Observers agree Erdogan’s health condition is very important as the race is tight between the ruling bloc and the united opposition, and his campaign skills are needed for an election victory.
Turkish citizens will elect a new President and parliament in May 14 elections that will rule the country for the next five years.
Source link: balkaninsight.com
