Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday cut off his live television interview citing a stomach bug. The 69-year-old later returned and apologised.
Turkey goes into presidential election on May 14. Erdogan cancelled Thursday’s engagements for health reasons, his party said.
Erdogan’s health crisis has sparked several theories on social media. Several Twitter users are speculating that he was poisoned.
“Was the Turkish president Erdogan poisoned by the West for siding with Russia and President Putin in the Ukrainian War?” a Twitter user said.
“We are investigating the reports that Turkish President has been poisoned after meeting with a Russian official,” another one added.
However, no report can confirm if the Turkish leader was poisoned. Some Twitter users also said that Putin has already left for Turkey to see Erdogan.
Erdogan had three appearances in the Anatolian provinces planned for Wednesday. However, now Vice President Fuat Oktay substituted for him.
“Today I will rest at home under the advice of our doctors,” Erdogan said on his official Twitter account.
“With God’s permission, we will continue our program from tomorrow. On this occasion, I wish all my citizens health, peace and enjoyment,” he added.
Erdogan last month called for the end of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He had a phone call with President Vladimir Putin.
The Turkey President thanked his Russian counterpart ‘for his positive stance regarding the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative’. He added that: “The two countries could take further steps” when it comes to economic cooperation.
On Tuesday, Erdogan quit his interview midway. The President returned 15 minutes later.
“Yesterday and today were hard work. That’s why I got a stomach flu. At one point, I wondered if it would be misunderstood if we cancelled the programme. But we promised. I ask for your and our audience’s forgiveness,” Erdogan said.
