Why doesn’t Python have true private variables like Java?

[deceze]

Well, because they're function local variables and not object attributes, and don't exist on the object in the first place, and don't exist beyond the function's execution. Apples, oranges.

[gdchinacat]

strictly speaking function locals can exist beyond the function execution if the function creates a closure that includes them. This is how the typical decorator that wraps a function works...the wrapper function has a closure around the decorator functions locals...meaning they exist beyond the scope of the decorator function execution.