[1] He stood for parliament as a candidate of the Social Democratic Populist Party (SHP) in Kırklareli at the election of 29 November 1987.
Gürpınar retained his seat at the subsequent election on 20 October 1991, again standing for the SHP, which formed a ruling coalition with the True Path Party (DYP).
Activities during Gürpınar's first term include a visit to Damascus 11–14 April 1995 that resulted in an executive protocol for tourism cooperation between Turkey and Syria.
This was a concern for the secular establishment and for Turkey's military, as religion had been rigorously excluded from politics since the founding of the Turkish Republic.
While negotiations continued among the four secular parties on forming a coalition, Tansu Çiller stayed in office as prime minister with the same cabinet as before the election.
[2][3] His funeral took place at the Parliament building on 8 December, attended by his family and politicians including Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy and the CHP leadership.