Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's interview with local broadcasters was abruptly interrupted on Tuesday night as the Turkish leader felt unwell during the live event due to stomach flu, also known as gastroenteritis, Sputnik International reports.
The interview began late Tuesday because of the president's busy election campaign. The live broadcast was abruptly interrupted as a journalist began to ask a question about future cabinet reshuffles. The long pause during the event momentarily raised concern on social media.
Video of the interruption does not show Erdogan walk off but instead shows the interviewer appear somewhat stunned before the broadcast goes to a halt.
After two short questions, a moderator announced that the interview with the Turkish leader was about to end to "allow Mr. President to rest."
Shortly after the interview was called off, Erdogan issued a release apologizing for the setback and stating that he had caught a stomach bug.
"First of all, I wish you good health. There was a lot of election work yesterday and today. That is why I got the stomach flu. I even wondered if we should cancel the program. But we promised, and we came. I apologize to you and our viewers," Erdogan said in the broadcast after the pause.
Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the presidential candidate of the Turkish opposition alliance, wished Erdogan a speedy recovery after he felt unwell. "I send my best wishes for a speedy recovery to Mr. Erdogan," Kilicdaroglu said on Twitter.
Meral Aksener, the leader of the Good Party, also wished Erdogan a speedy recovery on Twitter.
Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin tweeted that Erdogan "is in good health, thank God."
