Austria's coalition talks between ÖVP, SPÖ, and Neos are nearing completion, with the government program expected to be unveiled by Thursday.

However, internal party discussions remain, with SPÖ leader Andreas Babler set to present the agreement to his party's presidium.

A key focus of the coalition is reducing bureaucracy, but challenges have emerged.

Neos member Sepp Schellhorn is proposed as State Secretary for Deregulation, controversially placed under the Foreign Ministry rather than the Economic Ministry.

Legal and practical constraints limit his role, raising questions about the coalition's commitment to meaningful reform.

Critics argue this setup may hinder progress on deregulation, a priority for many voters.