# 1994 European Parliament election in Portugal

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.

## Parties and candidates

The major parties that partook in the election, and their EP list leaders, were:
* 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 |
| PSD | « Europa Sim, Portugal Sempre » | "Europe Yes, Portugal Always" |
| PS | « Connosco na Europa, os Portugueses têm voz » | "With us in Europe, the Portuguese have a voice" |
| CDU | « Vota CDU: é melhor para Portugal » | "Vote CDU: it's better for Portugal" |
| CDS–PP | « Viva Portugal » | "Long live Portugal" |

### Candidates' debates

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

## Opinion polling

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 | | PS | | | 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 |
| 12 May 1994 | Visão | 28.1 | 47.1 | 5.2 | 10.6 | 9.0 | 19.0 |
| 18 Jun 1989 | 1989 EP election | 32.8 9 seats | 28.5 8 seats | 14.4 4 seats | 14.2 3 seats | 10.1 0 seats | 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 | National party | European party | Main candidate | Votes | % | +/– | Seats | +/– |
| | Socialist Party (PS) | 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 | | 0 | 1 |
| | Unity Movement for Workers (MUT) | None | Carmelinda Pereira | 2,893 | 0.10 | 0.17 | 0 | 0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 2,949,765 | 96.90 | | | |
| Blank and invalid votes | Blank and invalid votes | Blank and invalid votes | Blank and invalid votes | 94,236 | 3.10 | | | |
| Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | 3,044,001 | 100.00 | — | 25 | 1 |
| Electorate (eligible voters) and voter turnout | Electorate (eligible voters) and voter turnout | Electorate (eligible voters) and voter turnout | 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) :
| Groups | 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 | Total | Total | 25 | 25 | 100.00 |

### Maps

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