Iceland's President remark on pineapple pizza sparks international stir

Iceland's President Gudni Johannesson's strong views on pizza have caused an international stir as he disclosed his opposition to pineapple on pizza to Icelandic high school students last week.

Local media reported that he said he'd ban the fruity topping if he could.

Amid a social-media storm, Johannesson released a statement on Facebook, stressing that he does not have the power to ban pizza toppings, and is "glad that I do not hold such power."

"I like pineapples, just not on pizza. I do not have the power to make laws which forbid people to put pineapples on their pizza. I am glad that I do not hold such power. Presidents should not have unlimited power. I would not want to hold this position if I could pass laws forbidding that which I don't like. I would not want to live in such a country. For pizzas, I recommend seafood," New York Times quoted Johannesson as saying.

A former history professor at the University of Iceland with a laid-back style, he has turned down a 20 percent pay hike, donated 10 percent of his pretax salary to charity, and holds the distinction of being the first president to march in a gay pride parade.