The object of the invention is a multi-contact element for a varistor wherein the multi-contact element has a sandwich structure, wherein the sandwich structure has two or more contact elements in a lowermost layer, and wherein the sandwich structure has at least one common connection electrode in an uppermost layer, wherein a first intermediate layer made of an electrically insulating layer of material is provided at least in segments between the lowermost layer (US) and the uppermost layer, wherein fuses are located in the first intermediate layer that are configured such that they are capable of sustaining a specified surge current, the specified surge current per fuse being less than the specified surge current of the varistor, wherein the fuses are embodied as vias within the first intermediate layer, wherein the fuses in the first intermediate layer are in direct electrical contact with the common connection electrode, wherein each of the fuses is in direct or indirect electrical contact with a subset of the contact elements (KE1, KE2), wherein the fuses provide blow-out channels in the first intermediate layer so that in the event of a thermal overloading of a fuse of the first intermediate layer, the affected fuse can vaporize through the blow-out channel.