"New poll shows SNS has lead over Democrats"

If parliamentary elections in Serbia were to be held now, the opposition Serb Progressive Party (SNS) would win 36 percent of votes. At the same time, the ruling Democratic Party (DS) would win 25 percent - according to the latest public opinion survey, carried out in the second half of September. "New poll shows SNS has lead over Democrats" The internal survey that collected answers from 1,000 respondents from across the country was carried out by one of the leading domestic agencies for public opinion research, said reports. The Belgrade-based newsletter VIP said that they had seen the results, "which are not scheduled for publication". According to this, the survey confirms two tendencies: up to 60 percent of those who would vote choose one of the two leading parties, and that the SNS has an advantage over the DS. The poll also showed that the position the citizens hold regarding the European Union is predominantly negative, "especially negative" when it comes to their views of the United States of America, and "totally negative" regarding NATO. However, such results should be considered with some reserve, since the ruling coalition, primarily the DS, could use them as an argument before the western partners – that if the ruling coalition does not receive "concrete support" of the western partners before the upcoming elections next year – Serbia could defiantly turn its back to European integrations, the article asserts. Meantime, the survey's results showed that the prevailing opinion about each party was negative: beside the SNS and the DS, those who said they would take part in the next election - 52 percent at this point - would support the Serb Radical Party (SRS) with eight percent of the votes, while the list also includes the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) with seven percent, and the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) with five percent each. Five percent is the threshold that a party must achieve in order to win seats in the country's parliament. All parties received higher unfavorable than favorable ratings from the respondents. 48 percent said they had a negative opinion about the SNS, followed by the DS with 54 percent, while the LDP and G17 Plus were rated in negative terms by 69 percent of those who took part in the poll. Almost 50 percent said they believed the EU had let Serbia down: 54 percent said they viewed the EU negatively, while only 19 percent had a positive stance toward it. The Serbian public's opinion about the United States is even worse, with 74 percent saying they viewed it negatively, and only 10 percent positively. However, NATO remains the least popular international institution as far as Serbians are concerned, rated negatively by 84 percent, while three percent of those surveyed said they thought about the western military alliance in positive terms. On the other hand, 27 percent hold negative views about Russia, while 36 percent see it in a positive light. In case there was a referendum about Serbia joining the EU, 46 percent of the citizens would vote in favor, 37 percent against, while 13 percent would abstain from voting, according to the poll. A similar referendum on NATO membership, however, looks like it would certainly fail, with only nine percent in favor of the idea, 71 percent against, and 16 percent saying they would not take part.

"New poll shows SNS has lead over Democrats"

The internal survey that collected answers from 1,000 respondents from across the country was carried out by one of the leading domestic agencies for public opinion research, said reports.

The Belgrade-based newsletter VIP said that they had seen the results, "which are not scheduled for publication".

According to this, the survey confirms two tendencies: up to 60 percent of those who would vote choose one of the two leading parties, and that the SNS has an advantage over the DS.

The poll also showed that the position the citizens hold regarding the European Union is predominantly negative, "especially negative" when it comes to their views of the United States of America, and "totally negative" regarding NATO.

However, such results should be considered with some reserve, since the ruling coalition, primarily the DS, could use them as an argument before the western partners – that if the ruling coalition does not receive "concrete support" of the western partners before the upcoming elections next year – Serbia could defiantly turn its back to European integrations, the article asserts.

Meantime, the survey's results showed that the prevailing opinion about each party was negative: beside the SNS and the DS, those who said they would take part in the next election - 52 percent at this point - would support the Serb Radical Party (SRS) with eight percent of the votes, while the list also includes the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) with seven percent, and the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) with five percent each.

Five percent is the threshold that a party must achieve in order to win seats in the country's parliament.

All parties received higher unfavorable than favorable ratings from the respondents. 48 percent said they had a negative opinion about the SNS, followed by the DS with 54 percent, while the LDP and G17 Plus were rated in negative terms by 69 percent of those who took part in the poll.

Almost 50 percent said they believed the EU had let Serbia down: 54 percent said they viewed the EU negatively, while only 19 percent had a positive stance toward it.

The Serbian public's opinion about the United States is even worse, with 74 percent saying they viewed it negatively, and only 10 percent positively.

However, NATO remains the least popular international institution as far as Serbians are concerned, rated negatively by 84 percent, while three percent of those surveyed said they thought about the western military alliance in positive terms.

On the other hand, 27 percent hold negative views about Russia, while 36 percent see it in a positive light.

In case there was a referendum about Serbia joining the EU, 46 percent of the citizens would vote in favor, 37 percent against, while 13 percent would abstain from voting, according to the poll.

A similar referendum on NATO membership, however, looks like it would certainly fail, with only nine percent in favor of the idea, 71 percent against, and 16 percent saying they would not take part.