The 2009 Iranian presidential election took place on June 12, 2009, to elect the President of Iran. The main candidates were the incumbent president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Mir-Hossein Mousavi, a former prime minister. Ahmadinejad was declared the winner, receiving about 63% of the votes, while Mousavi received around 34%. The election results sparked widespread protests, known as the Green Movement, as many 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.