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1994 European Parliament election in Portugal

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1994 European Parliament election in Portugal
← 1989 12 June 1994 1999 →
25 seats to the European Parliament
Turnout35.5% Decrease 15.6 pp
  First party Second party
 
Antonio Vitorino Politico.jpg
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 Increase 3 Steady 0
Popular vote 1,061,560 1,046,918
Percentage 34.9% 34.4%
Swing Increase 6.3 pp Increase 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 Steady 0 Decrease 1
Popular vote 379,044 340,725
Percentage 12.5% 11.2%
Swing Decrease 1.7 pp Decrease 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

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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 1994 EU elections, Portugal had 25 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 « 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

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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]

Opinion polling

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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.

  Exit poll

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

National summary of votes and seats

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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 Increase 10 3 Increase
Social Democratic Party (PSD) EPP Eurico de Melo 1,046,918 34.39 1.64 Increase 9 0 Steady
People's Party (CDS–PP) EDA Manuel Monteiro 379,044 12.45 1.71 Decrease 3 0 Steady
Democratic Unitarian Coalition (CDU)
• Communist Party (PCP)
• Ecologist Party (PEV) 		GUE/NGL Luis Manuel de Sá 340,725 11.19 3.21 Decrease 3
3
0
0 Steady
1 Decrease
Workers' Communist Party (PCTP/MRPP) None António Garcia Pereira 24,022 0.79 0.15 Increase 0 0 Steady
People's Democratic Union (UDP) None Carlos Marques 18,884 0.62 0.46 Decrease 0 0 Steady
Revolutionary Socialist Party (PSR) None Helena Lopes da Silva 17,780 0.59 0.19 Decrease 0 0 Steady
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 Decrease 0 0 Steady
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 Decrease
Unity Movement for Workers (MUT) None Carmelinda Pereira 2,893 0.10 0.17 Decrease 0 0 Steady
Valid votes 2,949,765 96.90
Blank and invalid votes 94,236 3.10
Totals 3,044,001 100.00 — 25 1 Increase
Electorate (eligible voters) and voter turnout 8,565,822 35.54 15.56 Decrease
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

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Summary of political group distribution in the 4th European Parliament (1994–1999)[7]
Groups Parties Seats Total %
Party of European Socialists (PES) 10 10 40.00
European People's Party (EPP) 9 9 36.00
European United Left (EUL) 3 3 12.00
European Democratic Alliance (EDA)
3 3 12.00
Total 25 25 100.00

Maps

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See also

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Notes

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

References

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  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. ^ "Elecciones al Parlamento Europeo: Resultados por países 1979 - 2014". historiaelectoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 November 2017.
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