1994 European Parliament election in Portugal

1994 European Parliament election in Portugal

←  1989 12 June 1994 1999  →
25 seats to the European Parliament
Turnout	35.5% 15.6 pp
First party Second party   Leader António Vitorino Eurico de Melo Party PS PSD Alliance PES EPP Last election 7 seats, 28.5% [a] 9 seats, 32.8% Seats won 10 9 Seat change 3 0 Popular vote 1,061,560 1,046,918 Percentage 34.9% 34.4% Swing 6.3 pp 1.6 pp   Third party Fourth party   Leader Manuel Monteiro Luis Manuel de Sá Party CDS–PP CDU Alliance EDA GUE/NGL Last election 3 seats, 14.2% 4 seats, 14.4% Seats won 3 3 Seat change 0 1 Popular vote 379,044 340,725 Percentage 12.5% 11.2% Swing 1.7 pp 3.2 pp

An election of MEP representing Portugal constituency for the 1994-1999 term of the European Parliament was held on 12 June 1994. It was part of the wider 1994 European election.

In the closest nationwide election in Portuguese history, the Socialist Party (PS) polled just less than 0.5 percent ahead of the Social Democrats (PSD). Nonetheless, it was a very strong performance from the Socialists, as they gained 6 percent more than in 1989, and also won three more MEP. It was also the first nationwide election victory for the PS since the 1983 general elections. At that time, the PSD was in government for nearly 9 years, under Prime Minister Cavaco Silva, but the party suffered little wear. The Social Democrats won 34.4 percent of the votes, a gain of more than 1.5 compared with 1989, and were able to hold on to the 9 seats they won in 1989.

The People's Party (CDS–PP), although losing some ground, was able to win back 3rd place with a very nationalist and anti-Europe speech. The CDS–PP won 12.5 percent of the votes, a drop of almost 2 percent, but maintained their 3 seats. The Democratic Unity Coalition (CDU) had a very poor performance, falling to 4th place, and losing both share of vote and seats. The Communist/Green alliance won just 11 percent of the votes, a drop of 3 percent, and lost one seat from the Ecologist Party "The Greens".

Turnout fell to all-time low levels, with just 35.5 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 1994 EU elections, Portugal had 25 seats to be filled. Deputies are elected in a single constituency, corresponding to the entire national territory.^{[ citation needed ]}

Parties and candidates

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

• Democratic Unity Coalition (CDU), Luís Manuel de Sá
• Socialist Party (PS), António Vitorino
• Social Democratic Party (PSD), Eurico de Melo
• People's Party (CDS–PP), Manuel Monteiro

Campaign period

Party slogans

Party or alliance		Original slogan	English translation	Refs
	PSD	« Europa Sim, Portugal Sempre »	"Europe Yes, Portugal Always"	[2]
	PS	« Connosco na Europa, os Portugueses têm voz »	"With us in Europe, the Portuguese have a voice"	[3]
	CDU	« Vota CDU: é melhor para Portugal »	"Vote CDU: it's better for Portugal"	[4]
	CDS–PP	« Viva Portugal »	"Long live Portugal"	[5]

Candidates' debates

1994 European Parliament election in Portugal debates
Date	Organisers	Moderator(s)	P Present   A Absent invitee N Non-invitee
			PSD Melo	PS Vitorino	CDU Sá	CDS–PP Monteiro	Refs
5 May	TSF	Maria Flor Pedroso	P	P	P	P	[6]

^{[ citation needed ]}

Opinion polling

See also: Exit poll and Opinion poll

The following table shows the opinion polls of voting intention of the Portuguese voters before the election. Those parties that are listed were represented in the EU parliament (1989-1994). Included is also the result of the Portuguese EP elections in 1989 and 1994 for reference.

Note, until 2000, the publication of opinion polls in the last week of the campaign was forbidden. ^{[7] [8] [9]}

  Exit poll

Polling firm/Link	Date Released		PS			O	Lead
1994 EP election	12 Jun 1994	34.4 9	34.9 10	11.2 3	12.5 3	7.1 0	0.5
Compta RH	12 Jun 1994	28.1–33.1 9	35.3–40.3 10	10.0–13.0 3	8.9–11.9 3		7.2
Euroteste	6 Jun 1994	31.0	32.4	11.2	10.3	15.1	1.4
Norma	6 Jun 1994	28.6	33.0	10.1	10.6	17.7	4.4
Euroexpansão	6 Jun 1994	28.2	39.5	7.2	7.8	17.3	11.3
Euroexpansão	21 May 1994	26.2	39.4	9.0	7.4	18.0	13.2
Visão	12 May 1994	28.1	47.1	5.2	10.6	9.0	19.0
1989 EP election	18 Jun 1989	32.8 9	28.5 8 [a]	14.4 4	14.2 3	10.1 0	4.3

National summary of votes and seats

Summary of the results of Portugal's 12 June 1994 election to the European Parliament

National party		European party	Main candidate	Votes	%	+/–	Seats	+/–
	Socialist Party (PS) [a]	PES	António Vitorino	1,061,560	34.87	6.33	10	3
	Social Democratic Party (PSD)	EPP	Eurico de Melo	1,046,918	34.39	1.64	9	0
	People's Party (CDS–PP)	EDA	Manuel Monteiro	379,044	12.45	1.71	3	0
	Democratic Unitarian Coalition (CDU) • Communist Party (PCP) • Ecologist Party (PEV)	GUE/NGL	Luis Manuel de Sá	340,725	11.19	3.21	3 3 0	0 1
	Workers' Communist Party (PCTP/MRPP)	None	António Garcia Pereira	24,022	0.79	0.15	0	0
	People's Democratic Union (UDP)	None	Carlos Marques	18,884	0.62	0.46	0	0
	Revolutionary Socialist Party (PSR)	None	Helena Lopes da Silva	17,780	0.59	0.19	0	0
	Earth Party (MPT)	ALDE	-	12,955	0.43	new	0	new
	Politics XXI (PXXI)	None	Ivan Nunes	12,402	0.41	new	0	new
	National Solidarity Party (PSN)	None	Antunes de Sousa	11,214	0.37	new	0	new
	People's Monarchist Party (PPM)	None	Paula Marinho	8,300	0.27	1.79	0	0
	Democratic Party of the Atlantic (PDA)	None	-	7,127	0.23	new	0	new
	Democratic Renewal Party (PRD)	RBW	Manuel Vargas Loureiro	5,941	0.20	[a]	0	1
	Unity Movement for Workers (MUT)	None	Carmelinda Pereira	2,893	0.10	0.17	0	0
Valid votes				2,949,765	96.90
Blank and invalid votes				94,236	3.10
Totals				3,044,001	100.00	—	25	1
Electorate (eligible voters) and voter turnout				8,565,822	35.54	15.56
Source: Comissão Nacional de Eleições Archived 2021-09-17 at the Wayback Machine

Vote share PS   34.87% PSD   34.39% CDS-PP   12.45% CDU   11.19% PCTP/MRPP   0.79% UDP   0.62% PSR   0.58% Others   2.01% Blank/Invalid   3.10%

Seats PS   40.00% PSD   36.00% CDS-PP   12.00% CDU   12.00%

Distribution by European group

Summary of political group distribution in the 4th European Parliament (1994–1999) ^[10]

Groups		Parties	Seats	Total	%
	Party of European Socialists (PES)	Socialist Party (PS)	10	10	40.00
	European People's Party (EPP)	Social Democratic Party (PSD)	9	9	36.00
	European United Left (EUL)	Portuguese Communist Party (PCP)	3	3	12.00
	European Democratic Alliance (EDA)	People's Party (CDS–PP)	3	3	12.00
Total			25	25	100.00

Maps

• 
  Most voted political force by district. (Azores and Madeira not shown)
• 
  Strongest party by municipality.

^{[ citation needed ]}

See also

• Politics of Portugal
• List of political parties in Portugal
• Elections in Portugal
• European Parliament

Notes

1. The Democratic Renewal Party (PRD) elected one MEP within the PS lists in 1989. The party contested the 1994 election alone.

References

1. Comissão Nacional de Eleições - Deputados
2. "Campanha eleitoral do PSD para as eleições europeias". RTP (in Portuguese). 31 May 1994. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
3. "Pré-campanha dos partidos para as eleições europeias". RTP (in Portuguese). 20 May 1994. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
4. "Campanha eleitoral da CDU para as eleições europeias". RTP (in Portuguese). 31 May 1994. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
5. "Campanha do CDS para o Parlamento Europeu". RTP (in Portuguese). 3 March 1994. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
6. "Debate com candidatos ao Parlamento Europeu". RTP (in Portuguese). 5 May 1989. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
7. "Restrições à publicação de sondagens políticas em períodos eleitorais". Marktest (in Portuguese). 17 September 2003. Retrieved 28 June 2005.
8. "Lei n.º 31/91, de 20 de julho". Diário da República (in Portuguese). 20 July 1991. Retrieved 28 June 2005.
9. "REGIME JURÍDICO DA PUBLICAÇÃO OU DIFUSÃO DE SONDAGENS E INQUÉRITOS DE OPINIÃO" (PDF). Comissão Nacional de Eleições (in Portuguese). 21 June 2000. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
10. "Elecciones al Parlamento Europeo: Resultados por países 1979 - 2014". historiaelectoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 November 2017.

External links

• Results according to the Portuguese Electoral Commission of the 12 June 1994 election of the 25 delegates from Portugal to the European Parliament Archived 22 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine