2.6 on the five-point scale is the Serbs' assessment of President Aleksandar Vucic. The Serbian authorities have failed to halt the growing trend of discontent and distrust felt by citizens, and support for the protests and students remains high even after five months (59%).

This is according to the results of a survey by the Centre for Research, Transparency and Accountability (CRTA), BGNES reported.

Half of the adult population is dissatisfied with almost every aspect of the government's performance - 51 per cent are dissatisfied with the government's overall performance, 61 per cent with the fight against corruption, and the least bad ratings (48 per cent) are in the area of social protection.

Aleksandar Vučić is rated extremely negatively. The average (according to the local school standard) citizens' assessment of him is 2.6. When asked who they trust more - the president or the students, every second citizen says he trusts the students and every third - Vucic.

The poll was conducted from 3 to 16 April, i.e. in the midst of the "offensive" with which the government tried to show that it is resisting student and civil protests with force (a rally in support of the government was held on 12 April in Belgrade), CRTA reports.

Despite government and pro-government media narratives that students are to blame for the poor economic situation, the majority of citizens (54%) hold the government responsible. The story of the "color revolution" is credible for just over a quarter of Serbs (28 percent), while 61 percent of citizens believe the protests were caused by anger over the loss of 16 lives due to corruption and negligence. At the same time, it is clear to citizens (54 per cent) that the students' demands have not been met.

Many see a way out of the crisis in either snap parliamentary elections (32 per cent) or a non-partisan expert government to implement key reforms in a limited mandate (29 per cent).

However, 56 per cent of citizens have no hope that the new government will solve the country's most important problems. Corruption is considered the biggest burden by 29 per cent of them. | BGNES