Is it still a coup? Why do we have voting in board and democracy in the first place if one cannot use it for its intended use case without the fear of retaliat

Is it still a coup? Why do we have voting in board and democracy in the first place if one cannot use it for its intended use case without the fear of retaliation? They clearly could have been more transparent, but it still does not make it as coup. If you think so - that is why populism is considered as threat for democracy.