After the elections of 2009 the new leader of Nea Demokratia Antonis Samaras re-appointed him as International Secretary, a position he held until 2015.

[3] In January 2014, Yiannis Stournaras announced that he would be stepping down as Minister of Finance in order to become Governor of the Bank of Greece.

[3] Following the win of New Democracy in the June 2023 Greek legislative election, Papastavrou was appointed Minister of State.

[1] During his tenure he formulated the National Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which was presented in September 2024.

[4] When the Lagarde list was published, it was revealed that Papastavrou was the joint holder of an account of $550 million.

[5] In response, Papastavrou claimed that it was an attempt by Syriza "to cover him with mud" by accusing him of "political immorality."