<p>An electromagnetic relay includes an electromagnet block and an armature block both mounted together on a relay base. The armature block is magnetically coupled to the electromagnet block such that it is magnetically driven thereby to move linearly between two operating positions for actuating the contact assembly into open and closed contact conditions. The armature block is supported on the base by means of a U-shaped balancing spring with a pair of parallel spring arms in the form of a spring leaf and a web integrally bridging the parallel spring arms at one end of each arm. The balancing spring is secured to the base at the web and carries the armature block with the other end of each spring arm being connected to each of the opposite sides of the armature block at a point an equal distance from said one end of each spring arm such that the parallel spring arms and web are cooperative with said armature block to define a parallelogram, allowing said armature block to swing in a linear path parallel with the length of the web.</p>