The invention relates to an electromagnetic control device for the opening and closing of a mechanical element, particularly a valve of an internal combustion engine. The positioning of the mechanical element in at least one position (open or closed) is achieved by the action of at least one solenoid (90) acting on a plate controlling the position of the mechanical element. The device has at least two gaps which are closed by the plate on the positioning of the mechanical element in at least one position, the plate being mounted to rotate such that the axis of rotation of the plate is between the two gaps. The device also has at least one permanent magnet (99b) to polarize the device such as to hold the plate in at least one position in the absence of current through the solenoid (90), said permanent magnet (99b) not being crossed by the principal magnetic flux (92) of the solenoid (90).