Erdogan cancels third day of election appearances

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan inaugurates Turkey's first nuclear power plant via a video link, at the Presidential palace in Ankara, April 27, 2023. [Turkish Presidency via AP]

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan canceled his election appearances for a third day Friday after falling ill with what officials described as an intestinal infection.

Erdogan, who has ruled Turkey for two decades as prime minister and then president, is seeking a third presidential term in Turkey's May 14 elections. He had been due to appear at a bridge opening and a political rally in the southern city of Adana, but his schedule changed to show he would attend the opening ceremony via video link.

Erdogan became ill during a TV interview on Tuesday evening with what Health Minister Fahrettin Koca later said was a "gastrointestinal infection." His election rallies planned for Wednesday and Thursday were canceled.

He looked pale Thursday as he inaugurated a nuclear power plant via video in his first public appearance since his illness.

Other officials...

Continue reading on: