Are Iran's Reformists still able to rally public around the flag?
Iran's Reformists are facing a popularity crisis, desperately trying to disavow President Hassan Rouhani's performance as the public largely blames them for much of the ongoing hardship.
![Supporters of Iranian president Hassan Rouhani celebrate his victory in the presidential election in Tehran Supporters of Iranian president Hassan Rouhani celebrate his victory in the presidential election in Tehran, Iran, May 20, 2017. TIMA via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC1B70C1D340](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2019/01/RTX36RDK.jpg/RTX36RDK.jpg?h=f15b89ee&itok=bRDc7n_J)
With the Iranian public's growing discontent with moderate President Hassan Rouhani, the country's Reformists are trying to keep him at arm's length. But this has done little to appease voters who blame most of the government inadequacies in recent years on the political behavior of the Reform movement.
The last litmus test for Reformists came in 2017 when they took over city council seats in the capital Tehran and other major constituencies after landslide victories in local polls held in parallel with the presidential vote.