The use of referendums and appeals to "popular sovereignty" — the idea that the people should have a direct say in governance — is becoming a common theme in the speeches of candidates running in the upcoming 2027 presidential election. While referendums can be seen as a way to increase citizen participation, they are not guaranteed to strengthen democracy. In some cases, they may be used to weaken the rule of law and the checks and balances that keep power in check. A growing trend known as "democratic deconsolidation" — a process where support for democratic norms and institutions weakens — is now influencing political strategies in many countries. This is often justified as a way to "give the people a voice again." As the election approaches, the theme of democracy is central to the campaign, even across different political lines. Some candidates, like Jean-Luc Mélenchon, want to make popular sovereignty a permanent feature of governance through frequent referendums. Others, such as Gabriel Attal, suggest consulting the public even more regularly, while Édouard Philippe wants to make referendums a more common tool. Bruno Retailleau also promises to "give the people a voice again," and Marine Le Pen plans to use referendums to enshrine "national priorities" in the Constitution and directly involve citizens on issues like immigration and end-of-life care. While all these candidates use the same tool — the referendum — their goals and the power they wish to grant to citizens vary. Some see referendums as a way to increase citizen involvement in shaping institutions, while others use them to re-legitimize their leadership in a system where traditional checks and balances are no longer effective. The use of referendums as a plebiscitary tool — a way to bypass institutional safeguards — is a well-documented part of democratic deconsolidation, a process where leaders gradually weaken democratic norms and institutions. This trend is part of a broader shift in liberal democracies, where democratic erosion often occurs from within, even when leaders are elected through competitive processes. These leaders often claim to restore a more "authentic" version of democracy, free from what they see as obstacles like judges, media, or experts. The increasing use of referendums to bypass institutions is one of the ways this shift is expressed. It is not a sudden rupture but a gradual process, where each reform may seem minor, but over time, they shift the balance of power. Understanding this process is essential because democratic deconsolidation is not simply an abandonment of democracy but a reinterpretation of it as something less liberal. It often begins with delegitimizing institutions, then gradually reducing their power, and finally altering the rules of political competition. The challenge is that these changes are often hard to detect in real time, as they accumulate slowly and are sometimes framed as necessary for restoring democracy. The 2027 election, therefore, may not only be a contest over policies and leadership but also a defining moment in the ongoing debate over what democracy truly means.