- Title: Mexicans snap up tickets in "presidential plane" raffle
- Date: 11th March 2020
- Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (MARCH 11, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS, MAN CHOOSING RAFFLE TICKETS VIEW OF THE LOTTERY TICKET THAT READS (Spanish) "PRESIDENTIAL AIRPLANE" SALESPERSON DETACHING LOTTERY TICKETS LOTTERY TICKETS MAN BUYING LOTTERY TICKET AND LEAVING LOTTERY KIOSK SALESPERSON PUTTING LOTTERY TICKETS INSIDE ENVELOPE SALESPERSON GIVING LOTTERY TICKET (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEXICAN RESIDENT, AMADO CARRION, SAYING: "I don't think I'm going to win the prize, but I am chipping in a little for the country, because I see many positive things from (President Andres Manuel) Lopez Obrador for the country. " SIGN THAT READS (Spanish) "AIRPLANE RAFFLE" PEOPLE BUYING LOTTERY TICKETS MEXICAN AIRPLANE LOTTERY TICKET PEOPLE STANDING IN FRONT LOTTERY KIOSK LOTTERY TICKETS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEXICAN RESIDENT, PAOLA FRIAS, SAYING: "I have mixed opinions. I do not agree with the government on some of the things that it is doing, but I want the equipment that is needed in hospitals. Hopefully he proves us wrong."
- Embargoed: 25th March 2020 22:35
- Keywords: Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador presidential plane raffle
- Location: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- City: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001C4M1007
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Mexicans on Wednesday (March 11) snapped up the first raffle tickets that aims to cover the cost of a presidential plane that has struggled to sell.
Mexico has yet to find a buyer for the $130 million Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has cast as a symbol of excess and corruption in previous governments.
Last month, Lopez Obrador floated the idea of raffling off the plane itself. The plan caused some hilarity in Mexico as humorists tried to imagine what an ordinary citizen would do with the large and opulent aircraft. But Lopez Obrador later clarified that 100 holders of winning tickets would get $1 million in cash.
As well as the cash prizes, the lottery would raise about $53 million dollars for public hospitals, the president said.
The winning tickets - selected from 6 million sold - will be announced on Sept. 15, the day before Mexican Independence Day.
(Production: Josue Gonzalez, Liamar Ramos) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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