Former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont has accused Spanish leader Pedro Sánchez of not having "a single positive idea" for Catalonia, and warned that he has little time left to propose a political solution for the conflict over independence.

Speaking at a conference in London’s Frontline Club, Puigdemont doubled down on his criticism of the current Spanish president, who came to power last spring thanks to the votes of pro-independence parties.

Referring to Sánchez’s parliamentary address on Wednesday, in which he notably hardened his tone on Catalonia, Puigdemont said he expected the Spanish president to "talk about politics, but he only talked about police: sending more police to Catalonia in order to continue the repression."