The survey by Ifop found that a staggering 54 percent of respondents believe democracy is not working well in France. Some 84 percent said people should have a bigger say in the political decision-making process.
The poll carried out for the Décider Ensemble think tank is a blow for Emmanuel Macron as the 2022 French presidential election looms.
Some 48 percent of respondents said the democratic state of the country has deteriorated under Mr Macron.
Meanwhile, 45 percent said nothing has changed and just 7 percent believe there has been an improvement.
According to the poll of 1,009 French adults, 49 percent of respondents want to see local or national referendums.
And 36 percent would like greater development of participatory approaches.
Meanwhile, 34 percent want an improvement of the place of Parliament within France’s institutions.
Some 33 percent back the election of representatives by proportional representation.
READ MORE: ‘Panicking’ Macron receives bleak poll warning ahead of election
Earlier this week, Valerie Pecresse – who has described herself as “one-third Thatcher, two-thirds Merkel” – won the French conservative Les Republicains (LR) ticket for the 2022 vote.
She said afterwards: “We are going to restore France’s pride and protect the French.”
Ms Pecresse’s victory ruled out the EU’s former chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier from the race.
Meanwhile, the unexpected candidacy of far-right commentator Eric Zemmour has overturned the conventional wisdom that the presidential election will be a rerun of the 2017 contest between Mr Macron and the far-right National Rally’s Marine Le Pen.
Although Mr Macron has not yet officially declared his candidacy, opinion polls have consistently indicated he will win a second term.
Additional reporting by Maria Ortega.