1989 European Parliament election in Portugal

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

1989 European Parliament election in Portugal
18 June 1989
24 seats to the European Parliament
Turnout51.1% 21.3 pp
  First party Second party
 
Leader António Capucho João Cravinho
Party PSD PS
Alliance ALDE PES
Last election 10 seats 6 seats
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 4 seats
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% 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%. 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%, compared with the 22% in 1987. They also gained 2 MEP, while the PSD lost one.

The Democratic Unity Coalition (CDU), also performed very well, winning 14% 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 14% and was surpassed by CDU, as it fell to fourth place.

Turnout fell dramatically in these election, with just 51% 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]

National summary of votes and seats
 Summary of the results of Portugal's 18 June 1989 election to the European Parliament
← 1987 • 1989 • 1994 →
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
Democratic Unitarian 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 84,272 2.03 0.74 0 0
Democratic Movement (MDP) None 56,900 1.37 0.88 0 0
People's Democratic Union (UDP) None 45,017 1.08 0.14 0 0
Others (parties or candidates that won less than 1% and no seats) 107,217 2.58 — 0 1
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
 
 1.37%
UDP
 
 1.09%
PSR
 
 0.77%
PDC
 
 0.72%
PCTP/MRPP
 
 0.64%
Others
 
 0.46%
Blank/Invalid
 
 3.08%

Distribution by European group
Summary of political group distribution in the 3rd European Parliament (1989–1994)[2]
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

See also

References
  1. Comissão Nacional de Eleições - Deputados
  2. "Elecciones al Parlamento Europeo: Resultados por países 1979 - 2014". historiaelectoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 November 2017.
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