# 2019 European Parliament election in Portugal

An election was held in Portugal on Sunday, 26 May 2019, to elect the Portuguese delegation to the European Parliament from 2019 to 2024. This was the eighth European Parliament election held in Portugal.
The Socialist Party (PS) was the winner of the election, scoring 33.4 percent of the vote. The party increased their share of the votes by 2 percentage points from the 2014 election, and won an additional seat. It was one of the only three times in Portuguese history where the government party won a European election.
The Social Democratic Party (PSD) achieved its worst results ever as a standalone party, with 21.9 percent of the vote, distancing more than eleven points from the winner. The People's Party (CDS), which ran alongside the PSD in the previous election, as part of the Portugal Alliance, also fell below expectations at 6.2 percent of the vote, only being able to elect their top candidate Nuno Melo.
The Democratic Unity Coalition (CDU) scored their worst result as well, narrowly electing two European Parliament members compared with their former three. On the other hand, the Left Bloc (BE) rebounded to previous support levels, more than doubling its vote share to 9.8 percent and electing a new member.
The big surprise of the elections was the result of People-Animals-Nature (PAN). Headed by civil engineer André Silva, PAN won 5.1 percent of the votes and was able to elect its first ever European Parliament member, over-performing the polls.
Turnout, again, fell to the lowest level ever, with only 30.7 percent of voters casting a ballot. Abstention reached an unprecedented level of 99.04 percent for Portuguese citizens living abroad.

## Electoral system

The voting method used, for the election of European members of parliament, is by proportional representation using the D'Hondt method. For the 2019 European Union elections, Portugal had 21 seats to fill. Deputies are elected in a single constituency, corresponding to the entire national territory.
This election was also the first in which the changes to the electoral law approved in 2018 were put into practice. The main changes were the automatic registration of all Portuguese citizens, at home and abroad, above 17 year's old, prompting the number of registered voters to increase from 9.7 million to almost 10.8 million, the introduction of early voting to all voters without filling an excuse, in previous elections voters could only vote early if they were unable to attend a polling station on election day, and the end of the "voting card", as voters would only need their identification card to cast a ballot. To vote early, 19,584 voters, 0.2 percent of all registered voters, requested an early ballot. According to the government, 14,909 voters cast an early ballot.

## Parties and candidates

The major parties that participated in the election and their European Parliament list leaders, ranked by percentage of the vote received, were:
* Socialist Party (PS), Pedro Marques
* Social Democratic Party (PSD), Paulo Rangel
* Left Bloc (BE), Marisa Matias
* Democratic Unity Coalition (CDU), João Ferreira
* People's Party (CDS), Nuno Melo
* People–Animals–Nature (PAN), Francisco Guerreiro
* Alliance (A), Paulo Sande
* LIVRE (L), Rui Tavares
* Basta (B), André Ventura
* We, the Citizens! (NC), Paulo de Morais
* Liberal Initiative (IL), Ricardo Arroja
* Portuguese Workers' Communist Party (PCTP/MRPP), Luís Júdice
* National Renovator Party (PNR), João Patrocínio
* Democratic Republican Party (PDR), António Marinho e Pinto
* United Party of Retirees and Pensioners (PURP), Fernando Loureiro
* Portuguese Labour Party (PTP), Gonçalo Madaleno
* Socialist Alternative Movement (MAS), Vasco Santos

## Campaign period
### Party slogans

| Party or alliance | Original slogan | English translation |
| PS | « #Somos Europa » | "#We are Europe" |
| PSD | « Marcar a diferença em Portugal e na Europa » | "Making a difference in Portugal and in Europe" |
| CDU | « Defender o povo e o País » | "Defending the people and the country" |
| CDS–PP | « Portugal, a Europa é aqui » | "Portugal, Europe is here" |
| BE | « Lado a Lado, pelo que é de todos » | "Side by side, by what is everyone's" |
| PDR | « A voz em Português que faz a diferença no Parlamento Europeu » | "The Portuguese voice that makes the difference in the European Parliament" |
| PAN | « A Europa começa em ti » | "Europe starts with you" |
| A | « Para ganhar uma Europa nova » | "To win a new Europe" |
| LIVRE | « Faz a tua Europa » / «Todos votam. Todos contam » | "Make your Europe" / «Everyone votes. Everyone counts. » |
| PNR | « Portugal português numa Europa europeia » | "Portuguese Portugal in a European Europe" |
| B | « Basta! » | "Enough! " |

### Candidates' debates
#### With parties represented in the European Parliament

2019 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 |
| Date | Organisers | Moderator(s) | PS | PSD | CDU | CDS–PP | BE | PDR | Refs |
| 1 May | SIC | Bento Rodrigues | P Marques | P Rangel | P Ferreira | P Melo | P Matias | P Pinto | |
| 2 May | RTP3 | Cristina Esteves | N | N | N | P Melo | P Matias | N | |
| 3 May | RTP3 | Cristina Esteves | N | P Rangel | P Ferreira | N | N | N | |
| 4 May | RTP3 | Cristina Esteves | P Marques | N | N | P Melo | N | N | |
| 5 May | RTP3 | Cristina Esteves | N | P Rangel | N | N | P Matias | N | |
| 6 May | RTP3 | Cristina Esteves | P Marques | N | P Ferreira | N | N | N | |
| 7 May | RTP3 | Cristina Esteves | N | P Rangel | N | P Melo | N | N |
| 8 May | TVI | José Alberto Carvalho | P Marques | P Rangel | P Ferreira | P Melo | P Matias | P Pinto | |
| 8 May | RTP3 | Cristina Esteves | N | N | P Ferreira | N | P Matias | N | |
| 9 May | RTP3 | Cristina Esteves | P Marques | N | N | N | P Matias | N | |
| 10 May | RTP3 | Cristina Esteves | N | N | P Ferreira | P Melo | N | N | |
| 11 May | RTP1 | Cristina Esteves | P Marques | P Rangel | N | N | N | N | |
| 20 May | RTP1 | Maria Flor Pedroso | P Marques | P Rangel | P Ferreira | P Melo | P Matias | N | |

#### With parties not represented in the European Parliament

2019 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 |
| Date | Organisers | Moderator(s) | PDR | PAN | L | NC | B | PCTP | A | IL | PNR | PTP | PURP | MAS | Refs |
| 7 May | SIC | Bento Rodrigues | N | P Guerreiro | P Tavares | P Morais | P Ventura | P Júdice | P Sande | P Arroja | N | N | N | N | |
| 13 May | RTP1 | Maria Flor Pedroso | A Pinto | P Guerreiro | P Tavares | P Morais | A Ventura | P Júdice | P Sande | P Arroja | P Patrocínio | P Madaleno | P Loureiro | P Santos | |

## Opinion polls

Exit poll
| Polling firm/Link | Fieldwork date | Sample size | TO | | | | | | | | | | O | Lead |
| 2019 EP election | 26 May 2019 | — | 30.7 | 33.4 9 | 21.9 6 | 6.2 1 | 6.9 2 | 9.8 2 | 5.1 1 | 0.4 0 | 1.9 0 | 1.5 0 | 12.9 0 | 11.5 |
| CESOP–UCP | 26 May 2019 | 12,227 | 32.5 | 30–34 8/9 | 20–24 5/6 | 5–7 1/2 | 7–9 1/2 | 9–12 2/3 | 4–6 1/2 | – | – | – | – | 10 |
| GfK/Metris | 26 May 2019 | 7,169 | 31.5 | 30.9– 34.9 8/9 | 21.8– 25.8 6/7 | 4.7– 7.3 1/2 | 5.3– 8.3 2 | 8.5– 11.5 2/3 | 4.7– 7.3 1/2 | – | – | – | 13.1– 16.1 0 | 9.1 |
| Aximage | 16–23 May 2019 | 766 | 34.9 | 32.4 8/9 | 25.1 6/7 | 7.1 1 | 8.3 2 | 11.1 3 | 1.8 0 | | 2.5 0 | | 11.7 0 | 7.3 |
| Eurosondagem | 15–22 May 2019 | 2,025 | ? | 35.5 8/10 | 25.5 7 | 7.0 1/2 | 7.6 2 | 6.9 1/2 | 2.5 0/1 | | 2.5 0/1 | | 12.5 0 | 10.0 |
| Aximage | 16–20 May 2019 | 622 | 34.2 | 32.5 8/9 | 25.4 6/7 | 6.8 1/2 | 9.3 2 | 11.4 3 | 1.4 0 | | 2.5 0 | | 10.7 0 | 7.1 |
| Pitagórica | 10–19 May 2019 | 605 | ? | 32.4 7/8 | 24.8 6/7 | 6.7 1/2 | 7.1 1/2 | 12.9 2/3 | 3.3 1 | 2.1 0/1 | 1.2 0 | 1.0 0 | 8.5 0 | 7.6 |
| CESOP–UCP | 16–19 May 2019 | 1,882 | ? | 33 8/9 | 23 5/6 | 8 2 | 8 2 | 9 2 | 3 0/1 | | 3 0/1 | | 13 0 | 10 |
| GfK/Metris | 7–12 May 2019 | 803 | ? | 36 8/9 | 28 6/7 | 8 1/2 | 8 1/2 | 9 2 | 2 0 | | | | 9 0 | 8 |
| GfK/Metris | 22 Apr–3 May 2019 | 802 | ? | 34 8 | 28 7 | 9 2 | 9 2 | 8 2 | 3 0 | | | | 9 0 | 6 |
| Eurosondagem | 28 Apr–2 May 2019 | 2,010 | ? | 34.0 9/10 | 27.1 7/8 | 7.1 1/2 | 8.1 2 | 7.1 1/2 | 3.3 0/1 | | 3.3 0/1 | | 10.0 0 | 6.9 |
| Aximage | 13–16 Apr 2019 | 612 | 40.6 | 31.7 8/9 | 29.0 7/8 | 7.7 1/2 | 8.4 2 | 8.3 2 | 1.3 0 | | 1.3 0 | 1.8 0 | 10.5 0 | 2.7 |
| Pitagórica | 3–13 Apr 2019 | 605 | ? | 30.3 7/8 | 28.0 7/8 | 7.6 2 | 6.5 1 | 11.3 2/3 | | 1.7 0 | | | 14.6 0 | 2.3 |
| Aximage | 30 Mar–1 Apr 2019 | 602 | 43.8 | 33.6 8 | 31.1 8 | 6.8 1 | 9.4 2 | 8.0 2 | 1.3 0 | | 1.3 0 | | 8.5 0 | 2.5 |
| Aximage | 9–13 Mar 2019 | 600 | 44.5 | 34.1 8/9 | 29.1 7/8 | 7.3 1/2 | 9.2 2 | 7.6 2 | 1.9 0 | | 2.0 0 | | 8.8 0 | 5.0 |
| Aximage | 5–10 Feb 2019 | 602 | 38.2 | 36.0 9 | 26.2 6 | 8.6 2 | 8.8 2 | 9.7 2 | 1.5 0 | | 1.9 0 | | 7.3 0 | 9.8 |
| Aximage | 4–7 Jan 2019 | 608 | 36.0 | 38.5 8/10 | 23.4 5/7 | 9.9 2/3 | 13.4 2/3 | 7.4 2/3 | 2.4 0 | | 1.4 0 | | 3.5 0 | 15.1 |
| 2015 legislative elections | 4 Oct 2015 | — | 55.8 | 32.4 (8) | 38.6 (9) | 38.6 (9) | 8.3 (2) | 10.2 (2) | 1.4 (0) | 1.1 (0) | — | — | 8.0 (0) | 6.2 |
| 2014 EP election | 25 May 2014 | — | 33.7 | 31.5 8 | 27.7 6+1 | 27.7 6+1 | 12.7 3 | 4.6 1 | 1.7 0 | * | — | 0.9 0 | 20.9 2 | 3.8 |

## Voter turnout

The table below shows voter turnout throughout election day including voters from Overseas.
| Turnout | Time | Time | Time | Time | Time | Time | Time | Time | Time |
| Turnout | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 |
| Turnout | 2014 | 2019 | ± | 2014 | 2019 | ± | 2014 | 2019 | ± |
| Total | 12.14% | 11.56% | 0.58 pp | 26.31% | 23.37% | 2.94 pp | 33.67% | 30.75% | 2.92 pp |
| Sources ||||||||||

## Results

Summary of the results of Portugal's 26 May 2019 election to the European Parliament :
| National party | National party | European party | Main candidate | Votes | % | +/– | Seats | +/– |
| | Socialist Party (PS) | PES | Pedro Marques | 1,104,694 | 33.40 | 1.91 | 9 | 1 |
| | Social Democratic Party (PSD) | EPP | Paulo Rangel | 725,399 | 21.93 | | 6 | 0 |
| | Left Bloc (BE) | PEL / EACL | Marisa Matias | 325,093 | 9.83 | 5.27 | 2 | 1 |
| | Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU) • Communist Party (PCP) • Ecologist Party (PEV) | PEL / EGP | João Ferreira | 228,045 | 6.89 | 5.80 | 2 2 0 | 1 0 |
| | CDS - People's Party (CDS-PP) | EPP | Nuno Melo | 204,792 | 6.19 | | 1 | 0 |
| | People–Animals–Nature (PAN) | APEU / EGP | Francisco Guerreiro | 168,015 | 5.08 | 3.36 | 1 | 1 |
| | Alliance (A) | ALDE | Paulo Sande | 61,652 | 1.86 | new | 0 | new |
| | LIVRE (L) | DiEM25 / EGP | Rui Tavares | 60,446 | 1.83 | 0.35 | 0 | 0 |
| | Basta! (B) • Enough (CH) • People's Monarchist Party (PPM) • Citizenship and Christian Democracy (PPV/CDC) | ECPM | André Ventura | 49,388 | 1.49 | 0.58 | 0 0 0 0 | new 0 0 |
| | We, the Citizens! (NC) | ALDE | Paulo de Morais | 34,634 | 1.05 | new | 0 | 1 |
| | Liberal Initiative (IL) | ALDE | Ricardo Arroja | 29,114 | 0.88 | new | 0 | new |
| | Workers' Communist Party (PCTP/MRPP) | None | Luís Júdice | 27,211 | 0.82 | 0.85 | 0 | 0 |
| | National Renovator Party (PNR) | AENM | João Patrocínio | 16,135 | 0.49 | 0.04 | 0 | 0 |
| | Democratic Republican Party (PDR) | ALDE | Marinho e Pinto | 15,751 | 0.48 | new | 0 | 1 |
| | United Party of Retirees and Pensioners (PURP) | None | Fernando Loureiro | 13,508 | 0.41 | new | 0 | new |
| | Portuguese Labour Party (PTP) | None | Gonçalo Madaleno | 8,412 | 0.25 | 0.44 | 0 | 0 |
| | Socialist Alternative Movement (MAS) | None | Vasco Santos | 6,612 | 0.20 | 0.18 | 0 | 0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 3,078,901 | 93.08 | | | |
| Blank and invalid votes | Blank and invalid votes | Blank and invalid votes | Blank and invalid votes | 228,743 | 6.92 | | | |
| Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | 3,307,644 | 100.00 | — | 21 | 0 |
| Eligible voters / turnout | Eligible voters / turnout | Eligible voters / turnout | Eligible voters / turnout | 10,757,192 | 30.75 | 2.92 | | |
| Source: Europeias 2019, Comissão Nacional de Eleições |||||||||
Vote share
PS
33.40%
PSD
21.93%
BE
9.83%
CDU
6.89%
CDS-PP
6.19%
PAN
5.08%
Alliance
1.86%
L
1.83%
Basta!
1.49%
NC
1.05%
IL
0.88%
PCTP/MRPP
0.82%
Others
1.83%
Blank/Invalid
6.92% :
Seats
PS
42.86%
PSD
28.57%
BE
9.52%
CDU
9.52%
CDS-PP
4.76%
PAN
4.76% :

### Distribution by European group

Summary of political group distribution in the 9th European Parliament (2019–2024) :
| Groups | Groups | Parties | Seats | Total | % |
| | Party of European Socialists (PES) | Socialist Party (PS) | 9 | 9 | 42.86 |
| | European People's Party (EPP) | Social Democratic Party (PSD) People's Party (CDS–PP) | 6 1 | 7 | 33.33 |
| | European United Left–Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) | Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) Left Bloc (BE) | 2 2 | 4 | 19.05 |
| | Greens–European Free Alliance (G/EFA) | People–Animals–Nature (PAN) | 1 | 1 | 4.76 |
| Total | Total | Total | 21 | 21 | 100.00 |

### Maps

* Most voted political force by municipality.

### Electorate

| Demographic | Demographic | Size | PS | PSD | BE | CDU | CDS–PP | PAN | Others |
| Total vote | Total vote | 100% | 33.4% | 21.9% | 9.7% | 6.9% | 6.2% | 5.1% | 16.8% |
| Sex ||||||||||
| Men | Men | 47% | 33.1% | 22.2% | 8.1% | 8.1% | 6.0% | 4.0% | 18.5% |
| Women | Women | 53% | 33.6% | 21.6% | 11.3% | 5.8% | 6.4% | 6.1% | 15.2% |
| Age ||||||||||
| 18–24 years old | 18–24 years old | 8% | 22.2% | 17.2% | 9.9% | 4.6% | 6.6% | 13.9% | 25.5% |
| 25–34 years old | 25–34 years old | 10% | 18.9% | 17.9% | 13.7% | 5.5% | 7.0% | 11.2% | 25.9% |
| 35–44 years old | 35–44 years old | 17% | 26.0% | 20.9% | 12.1% | 7.0% | 6.7% | 7.3% | 20.0% |
| 44–54 years old | 44–54 years old | 21% | 25.1% | 24.6% | 10.8% | 7.7% | 8.5% | 4.4% | 18.9% |
| 55–64 years old | 55–64 years old | 18% | 38.0% | 22.1% | 11.3% | 5.9% | 5.9% | 2.4% | 14.3% |
| 65 and older | 65 and older | 26% | 50.2% | 23.4% | 5.1% | 8.0% | 3.8% | 1.1% | 8.4% |
| Education ||||||||||
| No High-school | No High-school | 14% | 54.8% | 17.9% | 6.6% | 6.7% | 2.8% | 2.1% | 9.0% |
| High-school | High-school | 34% | 37.4% | 20.2% | 8.5% | 8.2% | 4.5% | 4.9% | 16.3% |
| College graduate | College graduate | 52% | 24.9% | 24.2% | 11.6% | 6.0% | 8.3% | 6.0% | 19.1% |
| Source: CESOP–UCP exit poll ||||||||||