The "referendum" was obviously not democratic.

You seem to have doubts still about that, so let me kindly illustrate you, about how real democracies work.

There is not a single democracy, not a single one, where common people can replace unilaterally the powers of the state.

Democracy does not mean that my friends and me can "vote" if we take your house and properties and chase you off, or don't do it (This is exactly what they were trying with the majority of the population in Catalonia).

I can't create my own taxes, or decide that I am too beautiful to pay the taxes that I dislike.

I can't replace the police and start driving like a mad in the highway while shooting people.

I can't build my own army, or trial somebody unilaterally acting as prosecutor and judge.

And of course I can't start an election, specially one that requires people to vote in a f*g cardboard urn, placed in the headquarters or a f*g political party.

The power to start elections lies in the elected president. Period. The state has the monopoly of a lot of things. If you start elections by yourself is, first, a farce, and second, not democratic.