1989 European Parliament election in Portugal

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1989 European Parliament election in Portugal
Flag of Portugal.svg
  1987 18 June 1989 1994  

24 seats to the European Parliament
Turnout51.1% Decrease2.svg 21.3 pp
 First partySecond party
 
PSD (1987-1996).png
Joao Cravinho ('Mao Invisivel', Centro de Estudos Sociais da Universidade de Coimbra), cropped.png
LeaderAntónio Capucho João Cravinho
Party PSD PS
Alliance ALDE PES
Last election10 seats, 37.9%6 seats, 22.5%
Seats won98
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 1Increase2.svg 2
Popular vote1,358,9581,184,380
Percentage32.8%28.5%
SwingDecrease2.svg 4.7 pp Increase2.svg 6.3 pp

 Third partyFourth party
 
Carlos Carvalhas no XIX Congresso do PCP (cropped).png
CDS-PP (1982-1994).png
Leader Carlos Carvalhas Francisco Lucas Pires
Party CDU CDS
Alliance COM EPP
Last election3 seats, 11.5%4 seats, 15.4%
Seats won43
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 1Decrease2.svg 1
Popular vote597,759587,497
Percentage14.4%14.2%
SwingIncrease2.svg 2.9 pp Decrease2.svg 1.3 pp

An election of MEP representing Portugal constituency for the 1989-1994 term of the European Parliament was held on 18 June 1989. It was part of the wider 1989 European election.

Contents

The Social Democratic Party (PSD) won the elections with almost 33 percent of the votes, but lost much ground compared with 1987. Although the country was experiencing a significant economic growth at that time, the PSD saw the gap between them and the Socialists narrow to around 4 percentage points. On the other hand, the Socialist Party (PS), although failing to topple the PSD as the largest party, performed quite well gaining more than 6% of the votes and polling above 28 percent, compared with the 22 percent in 1987. They also gained 2 MEP, while the PSD lost one.

The Democratic Unity Coalition (CDU), also performed very well, winning 14 percent and becoming the third political force. The Communist/Green alliance was also able to win one more MEP than in 1987. The CDS saw its share of vote drop a bit, to also 14 percent and was surpassed by CDU, as it fell to fourth place.

Turnout fell dramatically in these election, with just 51 percent of voters casting a ballot.

Electoral System

The voting method used, for the election of European members of parliament, is by proportional representation using the d'Hondt method, which is known to benefit leading parties. In the 1989 EU elections, Portugal had 24 seats to be filled. Deputies are elected in a single constituency, corresponding to the entire national territory.

Parties and candidates

The major parties that partook in the election, and their EP list leaders, were: [1]

Campaign period

Party slogans

Party or allianceOriginal sloganEnglish translationRefs
PSD « Ganhar 92 »"Win 92" [2]
PS « Vamos mudar Portugal para Portugal ganhar »"Let's change Portugal for Portugal to win" [2]
CDS « Com Lucas Pires, no coração da Europa »"With Lucas Pires, at the heart of Europe!" [2]
CDU « CDU: é melhor para Portugal »"CDU: it's better for Portugal" [2]

Candidates' debates

1989 European Parliament election in Portugal debates
DateOrganisersModerator(s)   P Present   A Absent invitee N Non-invitee 
PSD
Capucho
PS
Cravinho
CDS
Pires
CDU
Carvalhas
Refs
22 May RTP1 António Amaral PaisPPPP [3] [4]

National summary of votes and seats

Summary of the results of Portugal's 18 June 1989 election to the European Parliament
Portugal MEPS 1989.svg
National partyEuropean
party
Main candidateVotes%+/–Seats+/–
Social Democratic Party (PSD) LDR António Capucho 1,358,95832.754.70 Decrease2.svg91 Decrease2.svg
Socialist Party (PS)* PES João Cravinho 1,184,38028.546.26 Increase2.svg82 Increase2.svg
Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU)
Communist Party (PCP)
Ecologist Party (PEV)
LU Carlos Carvalhas 597,75914.402.90 Increase2.svg4
3
1

0 Steady2.svg
1 Increase2.svg
Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) EPP Lucas Pires 587,49714.161.34 Decrease2.svg31 Decrease2.svg
People's Monarchist Party (PPM)None Miguel Esteves Cardoso 84,2722.030.74 Decrease2.svg00 Steady2.svg
Democratic Movement (MDP/CDE)None António Victorino de Almeida 56,9001.370.88 Increase2.svg00 Steady2.svg
People's Democratic Union (UDP)None Luís Fazenda 45,0171.080.14 Increase2.svg00 Steady2.svg
Revolutionary Socialist Party (PSR)None31,7750.770.26 Increase2.svg00 Steady2.svg
Christian Democratic Party (PDC)None29,7450.720.00 Steady2.svg00 Steady2.svg
Workers' Communist Party (PCTP/MRPP)None António Garcia Pereira 26,6820.640.29 Increase2.svg00 Steady2.svg
Workers Party of Socialist Unity (POUS)None Carmelinda Pereira 11,1820.27new0new
Left Revolutionary Front (FER)None7,8330.19new0new
Valid votes4,022,00096.92
Blank and invalid votes127,7563.08
Totals4,149,756100.00240 Steady2.svg
Electorate (eligible voters) and voter turnout8,121,56451.1021.32 Decrease2.svg
Source: Comissão Nacional de Eleições
* = The Socialist Party list included 1 MP elected by the Democratic Renewal Party.
Vote share
PSD
32.75%
PS
28.54%
CDU
14.41%
CDS
14.16%
PPM
2.03%
MDP/CDE
1.37%
UDP
1.09%
PSR
0.77%
PDC
0.72%
PCTP/MRPP
0.64%
Others
0.46%
Blank/Invalid
3.08%
Vote share
PSD
37.50%
PS
33.33%
CDU
16.67%
CDS
12.50%

Distribution by European group

Summary of political group distribution in the 3rd European Parliament (1989–1994) [5]
GroupsPartiesSeatsTotal %
Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (LDR)9937.50
Socialist Group (SOC)8833.33
European United Left (EUL)3312.50
European People's Party (EPP)3312.50
The Green Group in the European Parliament (G)114.17
Total2424100.00

Maps

See also

References

  1. Comissão Nacional de Eleições - Deputados
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Campanha eleitoral para o Parlamento Europeu". RTP (in Portuguese). 15 May 1989. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  3. "Eleições Europeias – Parte I". RTP (in Portuguese). 23 May 1989. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  4. "Eleições Europeias – Parte II". RTP (in Portuguese). 23 May 1989. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  5. "Elecciones al Parlamento Europeo: Resultados por países 1979 - 2014". historiaelectoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 November 2017.