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| Spanish Socialist party's staff celebrate big win in €2.3bn El Gordo lottery | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Spain’s socialist party may have lost two general elections in the space of six months, brutally defenestrated their leader and found themselves eclipsed by the anti-austerity Podemos party, but the past 12 months have not been without at least one small victory. | Spain’s socialist party may have lost two general elections in the space of six months, brutally defenestrated their leader and found themselves eclipsed by the anti-austerity Podemos party, but the past 12 months have not been without at least one small victory. |
| On Thursday, the Spanish Socialist party (PSOE) announced that staff at its Madrid headquarters had won a share of the country’s €2.3bn (£1.96bn) Christmas lottery, El Gordo (the Fat One). | On Thursday, the Spanish Socialist party (PSOE) announced that staff at its Madrid headquarters had won a share of the country’s €2.3bn (£1.96bn) Christmas lottery, El Gordo (the Fat One). |
| “Happy that many workers have got lucky with the Christmas lottery,” the party said in a tweet, adding, with a degree of understatement: “A great end to a difficult year.” | “Happy that many workers have got lucky with the Christmas lottery,” the party said in a tweet, adding, with a degree of understatement: “A great end to a difficult year.” |
| The fillip, however, is likely to be short-lived as the party is still reeling from its worst elections results in four decades and remains without a leader following the ousting of Pedro Sánchez two months ago. | The fillip, however, is likely to be short-lived as the party is still reeling from its worst elections results in four decades and remains without a leader following the ousting of Pedro Sánchez two months ago. |
| The 2016 El Gordo comes at the end of the most tumultuous year in Spanish politics since the transition to democracy following Francisco Franco’s death in 1975. | The 2016 El Gordo comes at the end of the most tumultuous year in Spanish politics since the transition to democracy following Francisco Franco’s death in 1975. |
| Two inconclusive general elections left the country without a government for 10 months until the end of October, when Mariano Rajoy, leader of the conservative People’s party, managed to form a minority government thanks to an abstention by a deeply divided PSOE. | Two inconclusive general elections left the country without a government for 10 months until the end of October, when Mariano Rajoy, leader of the conservative People’s party, managed to form a minority government thanks to an abstention by a deeply divided PSOE. |
| The Christmas lottery has once again proved a welcome distraction from political skirmishes and Spain’s slow recovery from the economic crisis of 2008. Madrid proved the big winner of this year’s El Gordo as all the tickets bearing the first prize number of 66513 were sold in the capital’s Acacias neighbourhood. | The Christmas lottery has once again proved a welcome distraction from political skirmishes and Spain’s slow recovery from the economic crisis of 2008. Madrid proved the big winner of this year’s El Gordo as all the tickets bearing the first prize number of 66513 were sold in the capital’s Acacias neighbourhood. |
| The winning number was sold at a lottery shop that was taken over by its new owner just four months ago. The outlet is on Paseo de la Esperanza - or Hope Street. | The winning number was sold at a lottery shop that was taken over by its new owner just four months ago. The outlet is on Paseo de la Esperanza - or Hope Street. |
| The five lucky digits appeared on 1,650 tickets, yielding each holder of a décimo – or 10th share – €400,000. | The five lucky digits appeared on 1,650 tickets, yielding each holder of a décimo – or 10th share – €400,000. |
| El Gordo, which dates back to 1812, offers more total prize money than any other lottery. According to organisers, ticket sales this year rose to €2.6bn – up 3.5% on 2015. | El Gordo, which dates back to 1812, offers more total prize money than any other lottery. According to organisers, ticket sales this year rose to €2.6bn – up 3.5% on 2015. |