Nicolas Sarkozy has been a keen advocate of “big tent” politics, inviting opposition politicians into his government and engaging all and sundry in debate. But even he must be astonished at the way in which Muammer Gaddafi, Libya’s leader, has literally pitched his own tent within spitting distance of the Elysée palace during his five-day stay in Paris and staged a political circus.

Dealing with ex-pariahs is a ticklish business. The west has praised Mr Gaddafi for renouncing terrorism, abandoning his nuclear weapons programme and condemning al-Qaeda. There should be some rewards for redemption, otherwise what is the point of it?