Last weekend was a delicious reminder that sometimes, in spite of everything, things go right. As Serbians went to the polls to determine the fate of president Aleksandar Vučić and the future of the country’s momentous student movement, our reporter Wojciech Oleksiak spent a heady few days in Belgrade capturing the Student List victory in real time. Wojciech takes us through his pulse-quickening weekend and answers our questions about where the country goes from here – and what this extraordinary victory might mean for other protest movements around the world.
For more on Wojciech’s trip, check out his videos on our Instagram.
Special thanks this week go to Filip Djordjevic, Matija, Vladimir Radinović, Milica Mihajlović, Marko Kordulup, and Daniela Vancić.
RESOURCES FOR THIS EPISODE:
Our episode featuring Matija from last summer, “Is real change coming to Serbia?”
Wojciech’s “Report from Novi Sad”, recorded on the first anniversary of the train station disaster
“Insider Blows Lid on Serbian Ruling Party’s Use of Hired Thugs” – Balkan Insight, 14 October 2026
Vladimir Radinović’s podcast aggregator Podcast.rs and production company VisionsHQ
Naša posla, Vladimir’s narrative podcast about the Balkans
Dnevnik jedne mladosti, Milica Mihajlović’s award-winning podcast about life as a young person in Serbia
Don’t forget to get reading! The next installment of our book club with the European Review of Books is coming up on 10 December. You can join in on the fun by picking up a copy of Ece Temelkuran’s Nation of Strangers: Rebuilding Home in the 21st Century. If you’ve read the book and want to share your thoughts, send in your comments via voice memo to hello@europeanspodcast.com.
The Europeans is part of Euranet Plus, the leading radio network for EU news. However, our work is only possible thanks to support from listeners like you. Yes, YOU! If you want to help us keep making episodes like this one, you can join us on Patreon or make a donation via our website. Thank you! You’re the best!
reporter
Wojciech Oleksiak
CO-HOSTS
Katy Lee and Dominic Kraemer
editing
Morgan Childs and Katy Lee
SENIOR PRODUCER
Morgan Childs
mixing and mastering
Wojciech Oleksiak
editorial support
Dominic Kraemer
MUSIC
Blue Dot Sessions
INTERN
Inês Ruivo
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COMING SOON
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