Lawmakers in the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday approved the draft law proposing that the government acquire partial ownership of the new ArcelorMittal headquarters in Kirchberg.

The purchase will cost €273 million, which led to some heated debates between coalition and opposition members in the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday. According to the latter, the government is spending too much per square metre, significantly more than it has done in the past for comparable office spaces. Lawmakers accused the administration of "horse-trading" to ensure that AcelorMittal keep its global seat of operations in the Grand Duchy.

In the end, the project was passed with 32 votes in favour as MP Roy Reding, who recently parted ways with the Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR), joined the majority in supporting the motion. The Luxembourg government is now poised to own half of the steel giant's future offices.

The construction of the building, which will be located in Kirchberg, was officially launched in June with the formal ground-breaking ceremony.