Oct 11 (Reuters) - Poland holds a parliamentary election on Sunday, with the ruling nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party seeking an unprecedented third term in power after eight years in power.
A third PiS term could mean Poland continues to drift away from democratic standards, critics say.
They accuse the government of politicizing the judiciary, turning public media into its propaganda tool and utilising state resources to consolidate its power, while undermining Poland's position within the European Union.
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PiS says its goal is to enhance the efficiency of the courts and create a fairer economy, while defending Poland's Catholic identity in the face of Western liberal pressures.
Voters will elect for a four-year term 460 members of the Sejm lower house via a party list proportional representation system in 41 constituencies and 100 members of the upper chamber Senate by first-past-the-post method in 100 constituencies.
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Poles can also vote simultaneously in a referendum that features questions ranging from admission of immigrants to raising the retirement age and selling national assets to foreign entities.
More than 29 million people are eligible to vote. Polls open at 7:00 a.m. (0500 GMT) and close at 9:00 p.m. (1900 GMT) on Oct 15.
Candidates must end campaigning by midnight on Oct. 13.
News, forecasts and commentaries about the vote are banned from 24...
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