Mirziyoyev, who was elected to a five-year term on Dec. 4 with 89 percent of the vote, was named president in the wake of Karimov's death after a deal was struck among the leaders of the country's clans and political factions . Chief among them was Inoyatov, whose Tashkent clan serves as a major counterweight to Mirziyoyev's Samarkand clan . Mirziyoyev had served as Karimov's prime minister since 2003. During the succession discussions , he commended the late leader's domestic policies and hinted that he would maintain them when he assumed office. Mirziyoyev also pledged to preserve the country's strategy of nonalignment with foreign powers and the balance in its relationships with regional giants China and Russia.