Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had to cancel his live television interview on Tuesday after he complained of a stomach bug. The 69-year-old is facing health crisis ahead of the May 14 elections. Twitter users are now wondering what happens if he dies.
As per the Turkish constitution, if a president dies the President of the Turkish Grand National Assembly will serve until the election of a new one.
The constitution states that if the President is absent due to illness, travel and similar circumstances, the ‘President of the Turkish Grand National Assembly shall serve as Acting President of the Republic and exercise the powers of the President of the Republic until the President of the Republic resumes his functions’.
The statement: “In the event of a temporary absence of the President of the Republic on account of illness, travel abroad, or similar circumstances, the President of the Turkish Grand National Assembly shall serve as Acting President of the Republic and exercise the powers of the President of the Republic until the President of the Republic resumes his functions, and in the event that the Presidency falls vacant as a result of death or resignation or for any other reason, until the election of a new President of the Republic.”
It is not the first time that Twitter users have speculated that Erdogan has died. About 30 people faced legal proceedings after police investigated the rumours a couple years ago.
The Turkish President’s doctors went on record to deny that he did not have cancer after he underwent stomach surgery in 2012.
Several social media users on Wednesday speculated that the Turkish leader had a heart attack. The President’s Directorate of Communications however has denied the reports.
“Reports on social media that President Erdogan allegedly suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized are not true,” the center tweeted.
