Only four of eight best loser seats that may be awarded to redress inadequacies in party or ethnic representation are currently assigned. Decentralized structures govern the country s island dependencies. The largest of these is Rodrigues Island, which has its own government, local councils, and two seats in the National Assembly. The generally independent judiciary is headed by a Supreme Court. The legal system is an amalgam of French and British traditions.
Civil rights are generally well respected, although cases of police brutality have been reported.
Freedom of religion is respected. Both domestic and international travel are unrestricted, and there are no known political prisoners or reports of political or extrajudicial killings. The constitution guarantees freedom of expression and the press, but all broadcast media are state owned and usually reflect government views. Several private daily and weekly publications, however, are often highly critical of both government and opposition politicians and their policies. Freedoms of assembly and association are respected, although police occasionally refuse to issue permits for demonstrations.