the october 27, 1982, coup d'état attempt was a conspiracy conceived in spain to overthrow the government. meant to take place on october 27, 1982, a day before national elections, the plan was discovered and foiled the preceding october 1. although made public, the importance of the coup attempt was downplayed with the cooperation of the main media, in order to avoid raising social unrest. this coup d'état plan hardly affected the election campaign for the october 28 elections, won by spanish socialist workers' party (psoe). over time, it has become an obscure chapter in spanish history.