Turkey’s former president Demirel hospitalized

ISTANBUL

Süleyman Demirel served as 9th President of the Republic of Turkey. AA photo

Former Turkish President Süleyman Demirel was recently hospitalized due to a seasonal respiratory system infection and is currently undergoing tests in Ankara’s Özel Güven Hospital, according to his doctor, Aylin Cesur.

His condition is improving, and he is expected to be discharged soon, Cesur said.

Demirel thanked everyone who cared about his health condition and assured everyone that “there was no need to worry,” she added. He is currently being kept in hospital as a precautionary measure.

A prominent doctor, Professor Osman Müftüoğlu, also confirmed Demirel’s condition, saying there was nothing to worry about.

“It’s good for him to be in the hospital, even at the smallest risk, due to his advanced age,” Müğtüoğlu said, according to daily Hürriyet.

There were reports in late January that the ex-president had actually died, but these were later denied by Cesur, who subsequently announced to the public that Demirel was in good health.

Demirel, born in 1924, was Turkey’s ninth president between the years of 1993 and 2000, as well as its 12th prime minister. He was banned from politics for nearly seven years following the military coup of 1980.