An electromagnetic actuator for operating at least one movable contact of a switch into a switched-on position or a switched-off position, the actuator having: a static pole body; a movable pole body movable relative to the static pole body; a first magnetic circuit with a first coil for making the movable pole body and the fixed pole body move towards each other to a switched-on position and a second coil for making the movable pole body and the fixed pole body move away from each other to a switched-off position; and a second magnetic circuit with a permanent magnet and a retaining plate to keep the static pole body and the movable pole body in the switched-on position; first spring unit for urging the static pole body and the movable body away from each other; wherein the first and second magnetic circuit are arranged concentrically.