 After being dared by an American journalist, President Ferdinand E. Marcos declared a snap election during an interview on the American Broadcasting Company political affairs programme, "This Week with David Brinkley" in November 1985.On 3 December, the Batasang Pambansa passed a law setting the date of the election on 7 February 1986.On 4 February 1986, Marcos declared 6 and 7 February as nationwide non-working special public holidays to "give all registered voters fullest opportunity to exercise their right of suffrage."