package software-properties-common 0.96.24.28 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 127

[Giacomo Trimarchi]

Package crash after log in

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04
Package: software-properties-common 0.96.24.28
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.15.0-13.14-generic 4.15.10
Uname: Linux 4.15.0-13-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu4
Architecture: amd64
Date: Fri Apr 13 17:34:14 2018
ErrorMessage: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 127
InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-04-13 (364 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04.2 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20170215.2)
PackageArchitecture: all
Python3Details: /usr/bin/python3.6, Python 3.6.5, python3-minimal, 3.6.5-2
PythonDetails: /usr/bin/python2.7, Python 2.7.14+, python-minimal, 2.7.14-4
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.19.0.5ubuntu1
 apt 1.6~beta1
SourcePackage: software-properties
Title: package software-properties-common 0.96.24.28 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 127
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to bionic on 2018-04-13 (0 days ago)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Brian Murray (brian-murray)]

From the log file:

Preparing to unpack .../python3-apt_1.6.0~rc2ubuntu2_amd64.deb ...
/var/lib/dpkg/info/python3-apt.prerm: 6: /var/lib/dpkg/info/python3-apt.prerm: py3clean: not found
dpkg: warning: subprocess old pre-removal script returned error exit status 127
dpkg: trying script from the new package instead ...
/var/lib/dpkg/tmp.ci/prerm: 6: /var/lib/dpkg/tmp.ci/prerm: py3clean: not found
dpkg: error processing archive /var/cache/apt/archives/python3-apt_1.6.0~rc2ubuntu2_amd64.deb (--unpack):
 subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 127

Does the file /usr/bin/py3clean exist on your system?