There are many variations of democracy - what the communist nations refer to, or referred to, as a democracy is a "People Democracy" in the Marxist-Leninist sen

There are many variations of democracy - what the communist nations refer to, or referred to, as a democracy is a "People Democracy" in the Marxist-Leninist sense or the "Democratic Dictatorship" in the Maoist sense Workers or peasant councils would be directly elected, they would in-turn elect a local congress from those members, who then then elect a municipal congress, etc. up to the national congress. They're not democracies in the Western liberal multi-party democracy sense - but as they retain a facade of self-determination they're still classed democracies much as there are other variations - such as Russia and Hungary being illiberal democracies.