Swing vote: Rotterdam mayor in abseil bid for higher turnout

The mayor of Rotterdam, who says she is terrified of heights, has pledged to abseil down the city's highest tower if turnout increases in Wednesday's local elections.

Carola Schouten posted a video on Instagram Tuesday from the observation platform of Rotterdam's Euromast, the city's 185-metre-high (600-feet) landmark currently under renovation.

"I've said before that I'm prepared to do anything to ensure that turnout is higher for these municipal elections," said the mayor.

She said she had been asked whether that would include abseiling down the Euromast, "Europe's highest" according to its website.

"You should know that I have a huge fear of heights -- in fact I am a bit shaky even being up here," Schouten said.

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But she said she would take the plunge from the viewing platform 100 metres up if the turnout was higher than the 38.9 percent four years ago -- the lowest in the country.

"I've even got the stuff ready," she said, as a workman passed her abseiling gear.

"So, if you want to see me dangling, make sure you vote on March 18," pledged the mayor.

The Dutch head to the polls on Wednesday to elect mayors and city hall officials, with surveys suggested local issue parties will enjoy the most success.

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