An online survey on the protests related to the Law on Referendum and People’s Initiative and the Law on Expropriation (12 December 2021; N=98) shows high respondent mobilisation, but also pronounced scepticism about “quick victories.” As many as 70% report having participated in the protests—35% until the “Kreni-Promeni” demands were adopted, and another 35% even after the demands were adopted. One third (30%) did not participate.
How do respondents interpret the protests? Most view them as political (54.04%)—an expression of broader dissatisfaction with conditions in society—while 36.65% emphasise their civic character and the struggle for the rights of citizens who feel affected by the Rio Tinto project. A party-political framing is marginal (4.97%), as is the claim of “hybrid” influence by foreign actors (1.24%).
The most interesting finding concerns attitudes toward the authorities’ acceptance of the demands: 51% believe it primarily represents a postponement of the continuation of work on the Rio Tinto project until after the elections, while 21% interpret it as a victory for the demonstrators, and 16% as a defeat for the President. The message is clear: even when the government yields, part of the public reads it as a tactical manoeuvre rather than a genuine change of course.
Assessments of TV coverage further reveal polarisation. Respondents mainly identify RTS, Pink, Happy, Prva, and B92 as channels that “promote the government” or “carry out propaganda for the government,” often with elements of labelling and stigmatising critics. By contrast, N1 is predominantly seen as informative: 54% say it conveys relevant information, and 19% say it investigates and analyses the protests.
The sample is predominantly Belgrade-based (57% from the city centre), male (62%), and older (ages 46–55: 36%). Ideologically, social-democratic self-identification dominates (45%). In the 2020 elections, as many as 85% say they did not vote due to irregular conditions. Although not representative, the survey suggests a trend: protests are perceived as legitimate political pressure, yet trust in institutions and in media mediation remains low.