A European Parliament election was held in Portugal on 19 July 1987. It was the election of all 24 MEPs representing the Portugal constituency for the remainder of the 1984–1989 term of the European Parliament. Portugal had acceded to the European Community on 1 January 1986 and had been represented in the European Parliament by 24 appointed delegates until elections could be held. These elections took place on the same day of the legislative elections of 1987.
The Social Democrats (PSD) won the first European election by a landslide over the Socialists. The PSD won more than 37 percent of the votes, 15 points ahead of the PS. Note that a large chunk of the PSD vote in the 1987 legislative elections, held simultaneously with the European election, was from CDS voters that voted PSD in the general election and CDS in the EU elections, as CDS won 15 percent of the votes, compared with the 4 percent in the general election ballot. Together, the center-right parties won 53 percent of the votes.
The Socialists, headed by former PM Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo, suffered a heavy defeat, polling at just 22 percent, matching their legislative election score. The Communist/Green alliance, Democratic Unity Coalition, polled 4th place and won 11.5 percent of the votes. Finally, the Democratic Renewal Party (PRD), also suffered a very heavy defeat, winning just 4 percent of the votes and electing a sole member for the EU Parliament.
Turnout in these elections was quite high, with 72.4 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 1987 EU election, 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:Comissão Nacional de Eleições - Deputados
Democratic Unity Coalition (CDU), Ângelo Veloso Socialist Party (PS), Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo Democratic Renewal Party (PRD), José Medeiros Ferreira Social Democratic Party (PSD), Pedro Santana Lopes Democratic and Social Centre (CDS), Francisco Lucas Pires People's Monarchist Party (PPM), Miguel Esteves Cardoso
Campaign period Party slogans Party or alliance Original slogan English translation Refs PSD « Juntos vamos ganhar » "Together we will win" PS « Portugal para todos » "Portugal for all" CDS « Na hora Europeia » "In European time" CDU « Para defender Portugal » "To defend Portugal" PRD « Mais Portugal » "More Portugal"
Results
Distribution by European group + Summary of political group distribution in the 2nd European Parliament (1984–1989) Groups Parties Seats Total % Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (LDR) 10 10 41.67 Socialist Group (SOC) 6 6 25.00 European People's Party (EPP) 4 4 16.67 Communists and Allies (COM) 3 3 12.50 European Democratic Alliance (EDA) 1 1 4.17 Total 24 24 100.00
Maps
See also
Politics of Portugal List of political parties in Portugal Elections in Portugal European Parliament
References
External links Comissão Nacional de Eleições Results according to the Portuguese Electoral Commission of the 19 July 1987 election of the 24 delegates from Portugal to the European Parliament