The 2009 Iranian Presidential Election took place on June 12, 2009, and was primarily contested between the incumbent president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his main challenger, Mir-Hossein Mousavi. Ahmadinejad was declared the winner, receiving about 63% of the votes, while Mousavi garnered around 34%. The election results sparked widespread protests, known as the Green Movement, as many citizens believed the election was marred by fraud. Demonstrators demanded a recount and greater political freedoms, leading to significant unrest and a crackdown by the government on dissenting voices.