A switching device having a housing, a first busbar, a second busbar, a slide, and an electrical contact system, the electrical contact system comprising: at least one pair of contacts having one fixed contact piece, which is attached to the first busbar of the switching device with a fixed location relative to the housing of the switching device, and one movable contact piece that is movable relative to the fixed contact piece wherein the movable contact piece is coupled to the slide of the switching device and is movable by the slide in such a manner that the pair of contacts are opened and closed relative to one another; one planar contact piece carrier, to which the movable contact piece is attached, wherein the contact piece carrier extends in the longitudinal section thereof along the longitudinal axis thereof from a first end to a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the second busbar of the switching device, whose position is fixed relative to the housing of the switching device, wherein the second end of the contact piece carrier is coupled to the slide; and a spring element having a first spring arm section and a second spring arm section and a pressure region arranged between them in the area of the movable contact piece; characterized in that the first spring arm section is attached to the second busbar at the first end of the contact piece carrier, and the second spring arm section is coupled at the free end thereof to the slide in such a manner that the spring element exerts a contact force on the movable contact piece via the pressure region, the spring element presses on the movable contact piece via the pressure region even when the pair of contacts is electrically opened. at least one pair of contacts having one fixed contact piece, which is attached to the first busbar of the switching device with a fixed location relative to the housing of the switching device, and one movable contact piece that is movable relative to the fixed contact piece wherein the movable contact piece is coupled to the slide of the switching device and is movable by the slide in such a manner that the pair of contacts are opened and closed relative to one another; one planar contact piece carrier, to which the movable contact piece is attached, wherein the contact piece carrier extends in the longitudinal section thereof along the longitudinal axis thereof from a first end to a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the second busbar of the switching device, whose position is fixed relative to the housing of the switching device, wherein the second end of the contact piece carrier is coupled to the slide; and a spring element having a first spring arm section and a second spring arm section and a pressure region arranged between them in the area of the movable contact piece; characterized in that the first spring arm section is attached to the second busbar at the first end of the contact piece carrier, and the second spring arm section is coupled at the free end thereof to the slide in such a manner that the spring element exerts a contact force on the movable contact piece via the pressure region, the spring element presses on the movable contact piece via the pressure region even when the pair of contacts is electrically opened.