New French PM focuses on 'excessive' debt in first key parliament speech

They know exactly what they're doing. They take heavy inspiration from Germany where such politics benefit the wealthy very nicely. And liberal and right wing politicians usually are somewhat wealthy.

Suggesting a need for austerity also is a nice excuse to crack down on social programs, public health ,education, etc. All the nice things that make citizens happy and are fundamentals for a stable and unified society. A society liberals and right wingers don't quite like because it's harder to exploit.