The invention relates to a switching relay (1), particularly for a starting device for starting an internal combustion engine, having a contact device (5), a relay coil (2), an armature (3), and an actuating rod (4), wherein the actuating rod (4) is displaced by the armature (3) when current is applied to the relay coil (2) and the contact device (5) is actuated by the actuating rod (4), and having a contact ripping device by means of which the armature (3) and the actuating rod (4) are coupled to each other. In order to simplify assembly and disassembly, the contact ripping device is implemented having a latching device in the armature (3).