Populism is a "threat to democracy"?

Recently I read some newspaper article about how according to some politician "the raise of populism is a threat to democracy".

I just had to stare at the absolute beauty of that contradictory oxymoron.

"Populism" is a political tactic or principle of, essentially, giving the people what they want, doing what the people want, placating to the people, to the common person. This is, in fact, where the very term comes from: From "population", referring to favoring the population, the people, putting the people above everything else, doing the will of the people.

In fact, one of the dictionary definitions of "populism" is: "grass-roots democracy; working-class activism; egalitarianism." Another is: "representation or extolling of the common person, the working class, the underdog, etc."

So, what these people are saying is, essentially, that "doing what the people want is a threat to democracy".

I just can't help but marvel at that absolutely beautiful oxymoron.