President Park Geun-hye vetoed the National Assembly Law revision bill as expected, raising a political maelstrom that threatens to paralyze the country.

In her sharply worded speech made at the Cabinet meeting on Thursday morning, Park exercised her presidential veto power against the controversial National Assembly Law revision bill on grounds that its constitutionality is in doubt and that it can paralyze the government. The bill that allows the legislative body to request changes to administrative legislations and ordinances was passed in late May along with the bill reforming the civil servants’ pension scheme, among others.

It is unfortunate that things have come to such a pass. National Assembly Speaker Chung Ui-hwa had mediated a compromise revision bill that sought to remove elements that may be unconstitutional, but Park rejected the compromise bill, saying that only one word was changed.

As the next step, Chung said he would put the bill to a revote on July 1, although he knows full well that the ruling Saenuri will walk out during the voting session, effectively killing off the bill. The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy declared an immediate boycott of the National Assembly. On Tuesday, the parliament came to a grinding halt, only passing MERS-related bills.

While Park’s veto was expected, her venomous attack against the National Assembly came as a surprise. In her highly emotional speech, she lambasted the National Assembly and the legislators for not cooperating with the administration and for colluding to advance their political interests. The speech is likely to strain relations between the Blue House and the National Assembly as well as foment greater factional struggle within the ruling Saenuri Party ― as the pro-Park legislators are pitted against legislators not affiliated with the pro-Park faction. The relationship between the Saenuri Party and the NPAD will surely become more fractious than ever.

While Park contends that the National Assembly Law revision bill infringes on the power of the executive branch of the government, thus undermining the principle of separation of powers, the vitriolic statements she spewed against the National Assembly and politicians reveal her contempt for the legislative branch. Instead of a system of checks and balances, she appears to desire a system in which all branches of the government “cooperate” to advance the goals of the administration. Park seems to forget that the three branches are equal partners in the government, and that the executive branch does not lord over the judiciary and the legislature.

In an unprecedented move, Park all but singled out Saenuri floor leader Yoo Seung-min by name in attacking the “ruling party control tower” for not working to revive the economy. She went so far as to launch a personal attack, charging him with exploiting politics to exercise his “political philosophy and political logic.” Park, who has been unhappy with Yoo for expressing differences of opinion with the Blue House on a number of issues, sought to pressure him into resigning from the post with such a public reprimand, but Yoo, who offered an apology, has so far kept his post.

On Thursday morning, Park also seemed to have forgotten that she is the president of South Korea. In an impassioned manner more suited to stump speeches in a marketplace, she urged voters to pass judgment on politicians who betrayed their election pledges once they were elected. She clearly had next year’s general election in mind.

Perhaps Park was reminiscing the days when she was labeled the “Queen of Elections” for her ability to rally support for her party. But she must remember that she is no longer a partisan figure ― she is the president. The Cabinet meeting is not a stump site from which to launch attacks against her foes or rally support for her candidates.