Can the “Iron Fist” end the drug war?
Perez stumps for votes.
Former General Otto Perez Molina is expected to win Guatemala’s presidential runoff on Sunday on a platform that promises a tough stance on drug cartels.
The drug war has come to Guatemala, heightening insecurity and violence as powerful Mexican cartels vie for control of the country’s drug-smuggling routes. The vast majority of murders go unsolved in the country, and people want a return to stability.
Perez has vowed to wield an “Iron Fist” against the drug gangs, earning him the nickname and a strong lead over his opponent, Congressman Manuel Baldizon.
But the former general has raised concerns among pro-democracy advocates who don’t want to see a military man back in control. Guatemala only 15 years ago finished a bloody civil war that cost as many as 200,000 lives. The military was accused of abuses during that time.
Perez has said he wasn’t involved. GlobalPost explored his past in a video during the first vote. It's worth watching if you missed it:
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