“I believe western countries fail to understand the reality that countries such as Guatemala and those of Central America have to live in,” said Otto Pérez Molina in a recent interview. “There has been plenty of talk, but no effective response. I believe, ultimately, that this is due to a lack of understanding on the part of western countries.”

He continued: “There is going to be a change away from the paradigm of prohibitionism and the war against drugs, and there is going to be a process that will take us towards regulation. So I would expect a more flexible and more open position from President Obama in his second term.”