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
Turnout	51.1% 21.3 pp
First party Second party   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 1 2 Popular vote 1,358,958 1,184,380 Percentage 32.8% 28.5% Swing 4.7 pp 6.3 pp   Third party Fourth party   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 1 1 Popular vote 597,759 587,497 Percentage 14.4% 14.2% Swing 2.9 pp 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

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]

• Democratic Unity Coalition (CDU), Carlos Carvalhas
• Socialist Party (PS), João Cravinho
• Social Democratic Party (PSD), António Capucho
• Democratic and Social Centre (CDS), Francisco Lucas Pires

Campaign period

Party slogans

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

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

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

Summary of political group distribution in the 3rd European Parliament (1989–1994)^[5]

Groups		Parties	Seats	Total	%
	Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (LDR)	Social Democratic Party (PSD)	9	9	37.50
	Socialist Group (SOC)	Socialist Party (PS)	8	8	33.33
	European United Left (EUL)	Portuguese Communist Party (PCP)	3	3	12.50
	European People's Party (EPP)	Democratic and Social Centre (CDS)	3	3	12.50
	The Green Group in the European Parliament (G)	Ecologist Party (PEV)	1	1	4.17
Total			24	24	100.00

Maps

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

See also

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