1989 European Parliament election in Portugal

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.

1989 European Parliament election in Portugal

← 1987 18 June 1989 1994 →

24 seats to the European Parliament
Turnout51.1% Decrease 21.3 pp
  First party Second party
 
João Cravinho ('Mão Invisível', Centro de Estudos Sociais da Universidade de Coimbra), cropped.png
Leader António Capucho João Cravinho
Party PSD PS
Alliance ALDE PES
Last election 10 seats, 37.9% 6 seats, 22.5%
Seats won 9 8
Seat change Decrease 1 Increase 2
Popular vote 1,358,958 1,184,380
Percentage 32.8% 28.5%
Swing Decrease 4.7 pp Increase 6.3 pp

  Third party Fourth party
 
Carlos Carvalhas no XIX Congresso do PCP (cropped).png
Leader Carlos Carvalhas Francisco Lucas Pires
Party CDU CDS
Alliance COM EPP
Last election 3 seats, 11.5% 4 seats, 15.4%
Seats won 4 3
Seat change Increase 1 Decrease 1
Popular vote 597,759 587,497
Percentage 14.4% 14.2%
Swing Increase 2.9 pp Decrease 1.3 pp

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

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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

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

Campaign period

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Party slogans

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Party or alliance Original slogan English translation Refs
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

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

National summary of votes and seats

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Summary of the results of Portugal's 18 June 1989 election to the European Parliament
National party European
party
Main candidate Votes % +/– Seats +/–
Social Democratic Party (PSD) LDR António Capucho 1,358,958 32.75 4.70   9 1  
Socialist Party (PS)* PES João Cravinho 1,184,380 28.54 6.26   8 2  
Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU)
Communist Party (PCP)
Ecologist Party (PEV)
LU Carlos Carvalhas 597,759 14.40 2.90   4
3
1

0  
1  
Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) EPP Lucas Pires 587,497 14.16 1.34   3 1  
People's Monarchist Party (PPM) None Miguel Esteves Cardoso 84,272 2.03 0.74   0 0  
Democratic Movement (MDP/CDE) None António Victorino de Almeida 56,900 1.37 0.88   0 0  
People's Democratic Union (UDP) None Luís Fazenda 45,017 1.08 0.14   0 0  
Revolutionary Socialist Party (PSR) None 31,775 0.77 0.26   0 0  
Christian Democratic Party (PDC) None 29,745 0.72 0.00   0 0  
Workers' Communist Party (PCTP/MRPP) None António Garcia Pereira 26,682 0.64 0.29   0 0  
Workers Party of Socialist Unity (POUS) None Carmelinda Pereira 11,182 0.27 new 0 new
Left Revolutionary Front (FER) None 7,833 0.19 new 0 new
Valid votes 4,022,000 96.92
Blank and invalid votes 127,756 3.08
Totals 4,149,756 100.00 24 0  
Electorate (eligible voters) and voter turnout 8,121,564 51.10 21.32  
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

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Summary of political group distribution in the 3rd European Parliament (1989–1994)[5]
Groups Parties Seats Total %
Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (LDR) 9 9 37.50
Socialist Group (SOC) 8 8 33.33
European United Left (EUL) 3 3 12.50
European People's Party (EPP) 3 3 12.50
The Green Group in the European Parliament (G) 1 1 4.17
Total 24 24 100.00

Maps

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Comissão Nacional de Eleições - Deputados
  2. ^ a b c d "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.
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