I’ve heard US and France’s political systems referred to as “flawed democracies”.

Painting a lighter shade of lipstick on a pig doesn’t make the pig less of a pig.

I personally didn’t call either a democracy,

No, you didn’t. And that is legit refreshing.

I’ve explained why imho not voting was the least reasonable choice

I never said that not voting was reasonable. My point is that it’s perfectly UNDERSTANDABLE.

There is a difference.