With the Netherlands finally recognizing Indonesia's sovereignty on 27 December 1949, Zainul Arifin returned to Parliament as a representative of the Masyumi Party and later representative of the NU party when it finally broke away from Masyumi in 1952. A year later, Arifin was then involved in the executive branch after being appointed Deputy Prime Minister under Ali Sastroamidjojo's second premiership (1953–1955).