The python_distutils buildsystem is marked as deprecated as of
compatibility level 12, in favour of pybuild (which the Python team uses
basically everywhere).  However, as far as I can see it's been totally
non-functional since Python 2 was removed from unstable/testing in 2022:
it starts by trying to run pyversions, which no longer exists.  Given
that, I'm not sure the usual deprecation and compatibility-level rules
apply.  Would it perhaps be less confusing to just remove it entirely?

Thanks,

Hello,

Bug #1089715 in debhelper reported by you has been fixed in the
Git repository and is awaiting an upload. You can see the commit
message below and you can check the diff of the fix at:

https://salsa.debian.org/debian/debhelper/-/commit/f8ca4fed8f58278c316af1faefff1109c768c3ea
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remove the defunct python-distutils build-system retroactively

Closes: #1089715
Thanks: Colin Watson <cjwatson@debian.org>
------------------------------------------------------------------------

(this message was generated automatically)
-- 
Greetings

https://bugs.debian.org/1089715

We believe that the bug you reported is fixed in the latest version of
debhelper, which is due to be installed in the Debian FTP archive.

A summary of the changes between this version and the previous one is
attached.

Thank you for reporting the bug, which will now be closed.  If you
have further comments please address them to 1089715@bugs.debian.org,
and the maintainer will reopen the bug report if appropriate.

Debian distribution maintenance software
pp.
Niels Thykier <niels@thykier.net> (supplier of updated debhelper package)

(This message was generated automatically at their request; if you
believe that there is a problem with it please contact the archive
administrators by mailing ftpmaster@ftp-master.debian.org)
Format: 1.8
Date: Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:14:25 +0000
Source: debhelper
Architecture: source
Version: 13.21
Distribution: unstable
Urgency: medium
Maintainer: Debhelper Maintainers <debhelper@packages.debian.org>
Changed-By: Niels Thykier <niels@thykier.net>
Closes: 1082724 1083169 1083170 1089715
Changes:
 debhelper (13.21) unstable; urgency=medium
 .
   [ Niels Thykier ]
   * dh_installlog{check,rotate}: Re-added `named` `pkgfile`s in
     compat 14+
   * Dh_Lib.pm: Recognize `!=` substvars.
     Thanks to Guillem Jover <guillem@debian.org>
   * Revert "dh_installsysusers: Temporarily add opensysusers
     alternative". The work around is no longer needed. Thanks
     to Samuel Thibault <sthibault@debian.org>.
   * Fix some typos and formatting issues in man pages.
     Thanks to Christoph Brinkhaus <c.brinkhaus@t-online.de>
     (Closes: #1083170)
   * Fix typo of `dh_gencontrol` in man page
   * Remove the defunct python-distutils build-system retroactively.
     Thanks to Colin Watson <cjwatson@debian.org> (Closes: #1089715)
   * dh_fixperms: Remove `exec` bit from files in `/usr/share/themes`
   * Replace `dh-buildinfo` without the `dh_buildinfo` to ease transition.
     As requested in #1068809, `debhelper` will temporarily provide
     `dh-buildinfo` with relevant `Conflicts` and `Replaces` to ensure
     apt can find a solution. The provides is only on a metadata level,
     since most packages no longer use `dh_buildinfo` directly or cope
     gracefully with its removal. A few packages are expected to break,
     which will be cleaned up by people who volunteered in #1068809.
     If your package starts to FTBFS as a consequence of this change,
     please remove the call to `dh_buildinfo`.
     See: #1068809
   * dh_auto_install: Ensure sane minimum mode in destdir [c14]
     (Closes: #1082724)
 .
   [ Christoph Brinkhaus ]
   * Update German translation of man pages (Closes: #1083169)
Checksums-Sha1:
 3eb44dab8e349666bf779f68fa99af64fef21cd3 1576 debhelper_13.21.dsc
 9645929c154c6663d420ca0dab8552db14ec2261 616332 debhelper_13.21.tar.xz
Checksums-Sha256:
 22dc7135f5f1b849dbf5df457a7530f9ab5d6efe19b5da93c9f91d687c4c3a48 1576 debhelper_13.21.dsc
 3d193e5bb27075d0b9eca4dcb346762849a942f3869fe0844399406b9657037a 616332 debhelper_13.21.tar.xz
Files:
 18630374ad42a73be3f9d1e8cca771f2 1576 devel optional debhelper_13.21.dsc
 08ca496bfa843b99fde26f48205b61cf 616332 devel optional debhelper_13.21.tar.xz
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Control: reopen -1

It was re-introduced to due massive regressions (caused by packages
requesting the build system and then proceeding to "not use it" via
overrides).

Reopening to make that clear

Best regards,
Niels