In summary, Python needs it to be written := and not ← because the latter is not ASCII and not on standard keyboard layouts. And it cannot be written <- either

In summary, Python needs it to be written := and not ← because the latter is not ASCII and not on standard keyboard layouts. And it cannot be written <- either because that would redefine what "if x<-5" currently means, ie. "if x < -5". Interestingly, the PEP considered the close alternatives "if x from -5" and "if -5 -> x": https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0572/#alternative-spellings https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0572/#alternative-spelli...