Retired army Gen. Otto Perez Molina was elected Guatemala’s next president following a runoff election on Sunday . . . Perez Molina received 53% of the vote, soundly defeating his opponent, businessman Manuel Baldizon . . . According to a survey last July, rising violence from Mexican drug cartels dominated voters concerns . . . During the election Perez Molina vowed to deal with crime with a "mano dura" (firm hand) and called for elite army units to play a greater role in restoring stability . . . Central America's Guatemala-El Salvador-Honduras triangle has one of the world's highest murder rates, with Guatemala experiencing a rate of 41 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in 2010 . . . Perez Molina’s victory was expected after he received the most votes during the general election in September . . . Guatemalans are hopeful that Perez Molina can follow through on his promise to tackle the violence that has plagued the country.