Abstract: An electric switching device for alternating current comprises two branches (2, 3) connected in parallel in a current path and having each at least two contact members (4–7) connected in series. A semiconductor device (8) is adapted to interconnect the midpoints between the two contact members of each branch. When opening the current path a first contact member (5) of one, first branch located before said midpoint as seen in the current direction existing is controlled to open and a second contact member (6) of the second branch located after the midpoint as seen in the current direction is controlled to open for transferring the current to a temporary current path through the semiconductor device. The current path through the switching device is then broken when the semiconductor device is in a blocking state by opening a contact member (4, 7) of the switching device arranged in the temporary current path.