More than half of Serbians believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, while trust in key state institutions has deteriorated sharply, particularly in the police, according to a survey published on June 25 by the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP).

The survey of 1,000 respondents, conducted between May 12 and May 26, found that over 50% of citizens believe Serbia is on the wrong path, compared with 32.9% who think the country is moving in the right direction.

The findings come as President Aleksandar Vucic faces persistant of anti-government protests and growing scrutiny over the state of Serbia's democratic institutions ahead of possible early elections later this year.

More than 37% of respondents said Serbia is not a democracy, while another 25.2% described it as a democracy with major problems. Only 24.6% viewed the country as a democracy with minor shortcomings.

The poll also highlighted significsnt dissatisfaction with the government. Some 34.4% of respondents said they opposed the government, while a further 12.6% said they were somewhat opposed. By comparison, 17.2% said they supported the government and another 18.6% expressed partial support.

Asked who wields the greatest influence over decision-making in Serbia, 87.5% identified Vučić, while 71.7% pointed to the government. More than half, 57.8%, said organised crime also influences state decisions.

Trust in institutions remained highest for the Serbian Orthodox Church, which was trusted by 59.7% of respondents, followed by the armed forces at 53.9%.

Vučić was trusted by 39.7% of those surveyed, while 45.9% said they did not trust him. Prime Minister Đuro Macut was trusted by 32.4% and distrusted by 49.1%.

One of the most notable findings was a sharp decline in confidence in the police. BCSP researcher Filip Ejdus said trust in the force had fallen from 76% in a comparable 2022 survey to just 39% today, Danas reported.

The poll found that 45.6% of respondents believe the police protect criminals connected to the state, while 44.6% said the force shields politicians who abuse power. Only 41.4% said the police primarily protect citizens and their property.

The decline comes amid a series of scandals that have fuelled public concerns about links between organised crime and state institutions. A recent gangland-style killing and the subsequent arrest of a senior police official on suspicion of attempting to conceal the crime, although the most serious allegations have now been dropped, reinforced perceptions of blurred lines between the state and criminal networks.

At the same time, the survey suggested that most citizens continue to favour institutional change over political confrontation. Nearly 73% said elections were the preferred mechanism for bringing about political change, while 48.1% supported lustration measures and 43.3% backed the creation of specialised prosecutorial and police bodies to strengthen accountability.

"Elections remain the dominant path for change in the minds of citizens," BCSP researcher Dušan Stanković said during the presentation of the findings, Danas reported.

The results point to growing frustration with democratic governance and state institutions, but also suggest that public support for political change remains largely focused on electoral rather than extra-institutional means.

For Vučić, who has governed Serbia for more than a decade and is weighing whether to call early parliamentary elections, the findings underscore a more challenging political environment than in previous electoral cycles.