Let's all be grown ups for a weekend.

During the past few weeks Montevideo has been taken over by the 2014 general election, the campaigners virtually chase you down the streets to hand you flyers. Thank God for giving Uruguay so much land so they can re-plant all the trees they've cut down. One elderly gentleman shouted at me as I walked past: “I don't want to see any student votes go to the right wing”, and yesterday I found myself humming the jingle to the left wing party in the shower, and I innocently thought that in the shower of my own locked bathroom I would be safe, I couldn't have been more wrong.

And to make things worse Uruguay is also voting in a referendum to make a decision on the controversial topic of lowering the legal age at which people can be incarcerated from 18 to 16. NO A LA BAJA (literally, “no to the loweing”) is written on every street, every public building, every university, even the Pride Parade was taken over by the symbol of this campaign, the image of a colourful origami humming bird:

Whereas the campaign for SI A LA BAJA ("Yes to the lowering") has been incredibly quiet, almost non-existent to the public eye. Whether that's because they are confident they will win or maybe they think psychology is behind them as you the only option when in front of the ballot box is SI (Yes), if you'd like to vote for NO (no), all you need to do is not vote. Therefore, maybe the human nature's desire to participate is behind the SI (yes) campaign.

This week, the week before the general eletions and the referendum, I heard of an incident that may have tipped the scale a little towards the "Yes". As we all probably know, Uruguayans love their footbal, their passion is comrable to that of Brazil and Argentina. Therefore when a group of underage hooligans attacked a bus taking the footballers of one of Ururguay's main football teams, Club Nacional de Football, to a game and suffered no consequences, a lot of the supporters of this very popular team may have changed sides to SI. I believe this to be a very suspicious incident.

I'm still unsure about this topic as I believe that it is wrong for teenagers under 18 to remain unpunished but I donnot believe that a prison is the right place to educate someone so vulnerable to the people and influences around them. I used to be pretty sure that the age of legal responsability for minors should be lowered but after speaking to Uruguayans. Epeciallymy colleagues at Gurises Unidos, who work so hardto make sure young people do not follow the same path as their delinquent parents. But then again, is 16 that much different to 18?

This topic arose from the ashes after a period of stagnation. This metaphorical phoenix, or humming bird, arose from the theme that most plagues the population of Uruguay: insecurity. Many people think lowering the age is the answers but others think it only make things worse. This Sunday Uruguay must make a decision. And either campaign must collect 51% or more in order for the constitution to be changed.

Returning to the topic of presidential elections. This Sunday the whole of Uruguay will vote in order to decide who will be their next president. Unlike their neighbouring country, Brazil, there is no such thing as re-election here, therefore, their beloved current presisent, José Mujica, must stand down from presidency. His place will be taken (probably) be taken by one of the most popular parties: Partido National (also called Blanco), Partido Colorado, Frente Amplio (current party in power with Mujica) and Partido Independiente. Partido Nacional, or Blaco, a centre-right party, under Luís Lacalle Pou, a young candidate who uses his age as an advantage. Frente Amplio, left-wing party, under Tabaré Vazquez, a much older candidate with whom Lacalle Pou competes. Partido Colorado, a right wing party, which together with Partido Nacional is one of the oldest and most traditional of Uruguay, under Pedro Bordaberry. Partido Independiente, social democrats and christian socialists, under Pablo Mieres.

**Sigh** Mujica will be missed...