A contact switching mechanism comprising: a pair of fixed contact pieces, each fixed contact piece having a fixed contact; and a pair of movable contact pieces, each movable contact piece having a movable contact that faces each fixed contact in a contactable manner; wherein: each fixed contact piece includes a first fixed portion that is configured to fix to a base and a first main body portion that is configured to protrude from the base and includes the fixed contact, each movable contact piece includes a second fixed portion fixed to the base and a second main body portion that protrudes from the base and includes the movable contact, at least one of each fixed contact piece and each movable contact piece includes an extension that extends toward the other contact piece, and the extension is at the end of each fixed or movable contact piece (51, 52) opposite to the first or second fixed portion (53, 58) so that the fixed or movable contact (57, 62) is positioned between the first or second fixed portion (53, 58) and the extension, characterised by an arc-extinguishing member comprising a pair of permanent magnets arranged at a predetermined interval, and a joint member made of magnetic material magnetically connecting the pair of permanent magnets, wherein the joint member comprises: a middle wall; opposing walls connected by the middle wall; and middle protruding portions protruding from the middle wall and formed between the opposing walls, wherein each of the pair of permanent magnets is fixed to each opposing wall, the middle protruding portions are formed between the pair of fixed contact pieces and formed between the pair of movable contact pieces, and the pair of fixed contact pieces and the pair of movable contact pieces are located between the opposing walls, wherein a distal end portion of the extension is positioned in a direction in which an arc generated by each movable contact piece contacting each fixed contact piece is exerted by magnetism provided by the middle protruding portions and extended so that the arc is extinguished when the arc arrives at the distal end portion of the extension. a pair of fixed contact pieces, each fixed contact piece having a fixed contact; and a pair of movable contact pieces, each movable contact piece having a movable contact that faces each fixed contact in a contactable manner; each fixed contact piece includes a first fixed portion that is configured to fix to a base and a first main body portion that is configured to protrude from the base and includes the fixed contact, each movable contact piece includes a second fixed portion fixed to the base and a second main body portion that protrudes from the base and includes the movable contact, at least one of each fixed contact piece and each movable contact piece includes an extension that extends toward the other contact piece, and the extension is at the end of each fixed or movable contact piece (51, 52) opposite to the first or second fixed portion (53, 58) so that the fixed or movable contact (57, 62) is positioned between the first or second fixed portion (53, 58) and the extension, a middle wall; opposing walls connected by the middle wall; and middle protruding portions protruding from the middle wall and formed between the opposing walls, wherein each of the pair of permanent magnets is fixed to each opposing wall, the middle protruding portions are formed between the pair of fixed contact pieces and formed between the pair of movable contact pieces, and the pair of fixed contact pieces and the pair of movable contact pieces are located between the opposing walls, each of the pair of permanent magnets is fixed to each opposing wall, the middle protruding portions are formed between the pair of fixed contact pieces and formed between the pair of movable contact pieces, and the pair of fixed contact pieces and the pair of movable contact pieces are located between the opposing walls,