Voters in Serbia: The first time I feel hope

At Slavija Square in central Belgrade, people rush past the busy traffic junction, but Neda and Jana have time to stop and reflect on how different it was the day before. Then they stood here together with thousands of people who support the Student List - the political movement challenging Aleksandar Vucic's nationalist party SNS in the elections.

- It was beautiful, there were 150,000 of us, exclaims Neda, and sums up the feeling that many Serbs now express:

- For the first time in a long time, we hope.

Both she and her friend Jana have participated in the student protests that have raged for two years. They emphasize that the demonstrations were initially peaceful.

- The students insisted on it, but then it grew into a citizens' movement and then the government's response became more violent, says Jana.

Many Serbs on the street hesitate to talk about politics - several TT meetings do not want to give their first or last names. Jelica, who trained as a journalist, believes people are afraid of Vucic's increased repression. Of course she is hopeful, she says, but also skeptical.

- We'll see what happens, Vucic will not give up power so easily.

Distrust of the political system is deep. When asked what needs to change, people answer without even thinking: corruption.

- That is the root of all problems, says Jana.

Economist Milica agrees. She too will vote for "Number 3", i.e. the Student List. She describes how the salary does not even cover the cost of living for many in Serbia.

- We need change, we haven't had that in the last ten years. We need schools, better healthcare, a functioning infrastructure.

And she believes that Studentlistan has a chance.

- I shudder when I say it. It's the first time I feel hope. People are united – young and old come together and want to do something together.

Taxi driver Marija is skeptical. She cruises past the buildings that were bombed by NATO in 1999 and are still gaping empty. She believes that most things have gotten worse in the last 30 years.

- And the demonstrations will not change anything, she says disillusioned.

She, too, sighs at the growing gaps. Soon after, she drives past a gigantic neoclassical palace built by the owner of the pro-government media company TV Pink, and snorts.

- The rich here have it easy. They just get richer while the poor get worse.