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Here is a simpler test case which shows the same
problem:

>>> str, r
('e=>', '(e+?)>')
>>> re.match(r, str)
<SRE_Match object at 0x4015f2e0>
>>> pre.match(r, str)
>>> 

If we lose the laziness (make the pattern "(e+)>") then it
works OK.

So the crucial problem seems to be the compilation/execution
of the lazy patterns, *not* the compilation/execution of
character classes.