Use force=True
/etc/locatime:
file.symlink:
- target: /usr/share/zoneinfo/Europe/Paris
- force: True
# Note: file.exists is not valid here and can be removed
# file.exists:
# - name: /usr/share/zoneinfo/Europe/Paris
From the documentation:
If the target of the symlink exists and is not a symlink and force is set to False, the state will fail. If force is set to True, the file or directory in the way of the symlink file will be deleted to make room for the symlink, unless backupname is set, when it will be renamed