With neither Mr Sarkozy nor Ms Bruni-Sarkozy seen nor heard from for weeks, local council officials in Nogent have admitted to being "deeply embarrassed" by the statue.
"It has not only been described as hideous, but it honours a very rich woman whose husband is facing corruption allegations," said one official.
"It's well camouflaged at the moment, and not many people have noticed it, but the official unveiling is going to be difficult."
The €90,000 (£75,000) statue portrays the Italian-born Ms Bruni-Sarkozy as a "plumassiere", a woman worker from one of Nogent's former feather factories.
But on Thursday it was covered in masking tape and hidden from public view as the row about it rumbled on.
William Geib, a local Socialist politician, said portraying Ms Bruni-Sarkozy as a working woman was "grotesque".
He said: "It's an insult to the Italian feather workers, to give them the face of an extremely rich person. I have nothing against Carla Bruni-Sarkozy but she does not represent workers."
Even Ms Bruni-Sarkozy's own staff had questioned the significance of the statue.
"Carla isn't Joan of Arc or General de Gaulle. Carla is a former model," said a spokesman.
Despite this, Ms Bruni-Sarkozy admitted to modeling for the statue's sculptor, Elisabeth Cibot.
Now an inauguration of the statue has been pencilled in for September 21st, but neither Ms Bruni-Sarkozy nor her controversial husband will be in Nogent.
"She was not invited and will not be present," said Jacques Martin, the mayor of Nogent and a member of Mr Sarkozy's UMP party.
Money for the statue was originally set to come from taxpayers, but Cogedim, a local building company, are now thought to have covered the cost.
The Sarkozy family, including the couple's baby daughter Giulia, are thought to have headed to Canada before the police raids in June.
Their lawyers claimed they would be back within two weeks, but more than a month later they are still away, and thought to be staying with wealthy friends.
