Switching mechanism for an electrical switching device, in particular for a low-voltage circuit-breaker, having - an articulated mechanism for moving a movable contact, - an operating lever for manually opening and closing the movable contact via the articulated mechanism, wherein the operating lever has a grip and a terminal link which can be pivoted about a fixed bearing point, - a latch rotatably mounted about a fixed latch spindle and having a clamping cam, which latch has an end cooperating with a latching element of the switching mechanism for latching and unlatching the latch on the latching element, wherein the latch is in operative contact with the movable contact to move said movable contact via the articulated mechanism, - a tensioning roller, which can be driven via the operating lever such that in the event of a movement of the operating lever the latter is in operative contact with the latch by rolling along the clamping cam of the latch, - a tensioning element for tensioning the operating lever, - a tripping mechanism, which in order to move the latching element can be brought into operative contact therewith, - a force element, which is disposed between the latching element and the tripping mechanism and presses these apart, wherein the force element exerts a force on the latching element in the direction of the end of the latch, characterised in that - the latch has a bearing and a sliding block guide, - a rotary element is mounted on the bearing and is guided along a sliding block guide, wherein the rotary movement of the rotary element is restricted by the sliding block guide, - the rotary element is designed such that it can be brought into operative contact firstly with the tensioning roller and secondly with the latching element and that on conclusion of a tensioning operation of the operating lever it holds the latch and the latching element in a loaded position, and - the latch, the rotary element and the latching element are designed such that during the tensioning operation of the operating lever the rotary element is inserted into a recess of the latching element, so that the latching element can move in the direction of the end of the latch and away from the tripping mechanism, so that in the loaded position a gap exists between the latching element and the tripping mechanism. - an articulated mechanism for moving a movable contact, - an operating lever for manually opening and closing the movable contact via the articulated mechanism, wherein the operating lever has a grip and a terminal link which can be pivoted about a fixed bearing point, - a latch rotatably mounted about a fixed latch spindle and having a clamping cam, which latch has an end cooperating with a latching element of the switching mechanism for latching and unlatching the latch on the latching element, wherein the latch is in operative contact with the movable contact to move said movable contact via the articulated mechanism, - a tensioning roller, which can be driven via the operating lever such that in the event of a movement of the operating lever the latter is in operative contact with the latch by rolling along the clamping cam of the latch, - a tensioning element for tensioning the operating lever, - a tripping mechanism, which in order to move the latching element can be brought into operative contact therewith, - a force element, which is disposed between the latching element and the tripping mechanism and presses these apart, wherein the force element exerts a force on the latching element in the direction of the end of the latch, - the latch has a bearing and a sliding block guide, - a rotary element is mounted on the bearing and is guided along a sliding block guide, wherein the rotary movement of the rotary element is restricted by the sliding block guide, - the rotary element is designed such that it can be brought into operative contact firstly with the tensioning roller and secondly with the latching element and that on conclusion of a tensioning operation of the operating lever it holds the latch and the latching element in a loaded position, and - the latch, the rotary element and the latching element are designed such that during the tensioning operation of the operating lever the rotary element is inserted into a recess of the latching element, so that the latching element can move in the direction of the end of the latch and away from the tripping mechanism, so that in the loaded position a gap exists between the latching element and the tripping mechanism.