An electromagnetic relay comprising: a coil for generating an electromagnetic force when energized; a movable member (22, 25, 26) capable of being attracted by the electromagnetic force of the coil; two fixed contact retainers (16a, 16b) having fixed contacts (17a, 17b); a plate-like movable element having a first movable contact and a second movable contact capable of contacting the fixed contacts (17a, 17b) and separating from the fixed contacts (17a, 17b); a contact pressure spring for biasing the movable element in a direction for bringing the fixed contacts (17a, 17b) and the first and second movable contacts (29a, 29b) into contact with each other; a first permanent magnet arranged near the first movable contact to be lateral to an outer periphery of the movable element; and a permanent second magnet arranged near the second movable contact to be lateral to the outer periphery of the movable element, wherein when the movable member (22, 25, 26) is attracted by the electromagnetic force of the coil, the movable member (22, 25, 26) moves in a direction for separating from the movable element and the fixed contacts (17a, 17b) contact the first movable contact and the second movable contact because the contact pressure spring biases the movable element, the first movable contact and the second movable contact are arranged between the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet and spaced from each other in the direction of the line connecting the north pole and the south pole of the first permanent magnet, characterized in that when a direction, which is perpendicular to both of the line connecting the north pole and the south pole of the first permanent magnet and a movement direction of the movable element, is defined as a reference direction, a part of length of the movable element, which is measured along a line passing through the first movable contact in the reference direction, on a first side of the first movable contact is differentiated from another part of the length of the movable element, which is measured along the line passing through the first movable contact in the reference direction, on a second side of the first movable contact opposite to the first side such that a resultant force of Lorentz forces acting on the movable element near the first movable contact is directed in a direction for bringing the fixed contact and the first movable contact into contact with each other, and a part of length of the movable element, which is measured along a line passing through the second movable contact in the reference direction, on a first side of the second movable contact is differentiated from another part of the length of the movable element, which is measured along the line passing through the second movable contact in the reference direction, on a second side of the second movable contact opposite to the first side such that a resultant force of Lorentz forces acting on the movable element near the second movable contact is directed in a direction for bringing the fixed contact and the second movable contact into contact with each other, a first Lorentz force acting on a portion of the movable element extending from the specific movable contact to the end portion of the movable element on the first end side is directed in a direction for bringing the fixed contacts (17a, 17b) and the movable contacts (29a, 29b) into contact with each other, a second Lorentz force acting on a portion of the movable element extending from the specific movable contact to the end portion of the movable element on the second end side is directed in a direction for separating the fixed contacts (17a, 17b) and the movable contacts (29a, 29b) from each other, the first Lorentz force is larger than the second Lorenz force, whereby a resultant Lorenz force as the sum of the both Lorenz forces is a force in a direction for bringing the fixed contacts and the movable contacts into contact with each other, and the arrangement of the north pole and the south pole of the permanent magnet is set such that a direction of the first Lorentz force coincides with a direction for biasing the movable element toward the fixed contact retainers (16a, 16b). a coil for generating an electromagnetic force when energized; a movable member (22, 25, 26) capable of being attracted by the electromagnetic force of the coil; two fixed contact retainers (16a, 16b) having fixed contacts (17a, 17b); a plate-like movable element having a first movable contact and a second movable contact capable of contacting the fixed contacts (17a, 17b) and separating from the fixed contacts (17a, 17b); a contact pressure spring for biasing the movable element in a direction for bringing the fixed contacts (17a, 17b) and the first and second movable contacts (29a, 29b) into contact with each other; a first permanent magnet arranged near the first movable contact to be lateral to an outer periphery of the movable element; and a permanent second magnet arranged near the second movable contact to be lateral to the outer periphery of the movable element, wherein