On Slavija Square in central Belgrade, people rush past the busy traffic hub, but Neda and Jana have time to stop and reflect on how different it was the day before. Then, they stood here with thousands of people supporting the Student List - the political movement challenging Aleksandar Vucic’s nationalist party, the SNS, in the elections.
It was beautiful. There were 150,000 of us, Neda exclaims, summing up a feeling shared by many Serbs:
For the first time in a long time, we hope.
Both she and her friend Jana have taken part in the student protests that have been going on for two years. They emphasize that the demonstrations were initially peaceful.
The students insisted on that, but then the protests grew into a citizens' movement, and the government's response became more violent, says Jana.
Grand corruption
Many Serbs on the street are hesitant to talk about politics - several people TT spoke to did not want to give their first or last names. Jelica, who trained as a journalist, believes that people are afraid of Vucic's increased repression. She is hopeful, she says, but also skeptical.
We'll see what happens. Vucic won't give up power that easily.
Distrust of the political system runs deep. When asked what needs to change, people answer without even thinking: corruption.
That's the root of all problems, says Jana.
Economist Milica agrees. She will also vote for “Number 3”, the Student List. She says that many people in Serbia earn too little to cover their living costs.
We need change. We haven't had that in the last ten years. We need schools, better healthcare and functioning infrastructure.
And she believes that the Student List has a chance.
I shudder when I say it. It's the first time I've felt hope. People are united - young and old are coming together and want to do something together.
Weary
Taxi driver Marija is skeptical. She drives past the buildings bombed by NATO in 1999, which still stand empty. She believes that most things have got worse over the past 30 years.
And the demonstrations won't change anything, she says, disillusioned.
She, too, sighs at the growing divisions. Shortly afterwards, 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 poorer.
Facts: Serbia goes to the polls
Serbia will hold elections on October 25, after two years of widespread and sometimes violent protests. The country will elect 250 members of parliament. A majority requires 126 seats.
Politics has been dominated by Aleksandar Vucic since 2012. His nationalist governing party, the SNS (Serbian Progressive Party), is running in the elections with several smaller nationalist and conservative parties under the name “A United Serbia.” In total, around 18 parties and coalitions are participating.
The SNS’s biggest opponent is the “Student List”, which was registered last autumn. The students have chosen candidates with little political experience from a range of fields. At the top of the list is cardiologist Ilija Srdanovic. However, the candidates emphasize collective leadership.
Opinion polls show that the race between the governing coalition and the Student List is extremely close.