A method for performing a switching operation from a closed state to an opened state of an electromagnetic relay comprising a fixed contact (73a, 73b), a movable contact (69a, 69b) that is movable between a first position at which the movable contact is in contact with the fixed contact (73a, 73b) and a second position at which the movable contact (69a, 69b) is separated from the fixed contact (73a, 73b), an electromagnet that includes a coil that generates a magnetic field when an electric current is supplied, and an actuator that moves the movable contact (69a, 69b) by the magnetic field generated by the electromagnet, wherein the movable contact (69a, 69b) and the fixed contact (73a, 73b) form the closed state in the first position and form the opened state in the second position, wherein the electromagnet includes a magnetic core and a yoke coupled to the magnetic core, wherein the actuator includes a pair of armatures (91, 92) and a permanent magnet sandwiched by the pair of armatures (91, 92), wherein a magnetic circuit formed by the magnetic core, the yoke and the pair of armatures (91, 92) is closed at the opened state, so that the first armature contacts the yoke and the second armature contacts the magnetic core, and the magnetic circuit is opened at the closed state so that the second armature contacts the yoke and the first armature is separated from the yoke, wherein the coil includes a first winding and a second winding, wherein the first magnetic field in the first direction drives the actuator to move the movable contact (69a, 69b) toward the fixed contact (73a, 73b) by flowing a first current in the first winding, and wherein the second magnetic field in the second direction and moves the movable contact (69a, 69b) away from the fixed contact (73a, 73b) by flowing a second current in the second winding, characterized in that the method comprises: while in the closed state the first current is continuously applied through the first winding of the coil, applying the second current through the second winding of the coil thus providing an overlapping state; after a period of time ("t2-t1") in the overlapping state terminating the first current. wherein the movable contact (69a, 69b) and the fixed contact (73a, 73b) form the closed state in the first position and form the opened state in the second position, wherein the electromagnet includes a magnetic core and a yoke coupled to the magnetic core, wherein the actuator includes a pair of armatures (91, 92) and a permanent magnet sandwiched by the pair of armatures (91, 92), wherein a magnetic circuit formed by the magnetic core, the yoke and the pair of armatures (91, 92) is closed at the opened state, so that the first armature contacts the yoke and the second armature contacts the magnetic core, and the magnetic circuit is opened at the closed state so that the second armature contacts the yoke and the first armature is separated from the yoke, wherein the coil includes a first winding and a second winding, wherein the first magnetic field in the first direction drives the actuator to move the movable contact (69a, 69b) toward the fixed contact (73a, 73b) by flowing a first current in the first winding, and wherein the second magnetic field in the second direction and moves the movable contact (69a, 69b) away from the fixed contact (73a, 73b) by flowing a second current in the second winding, characterized in that the method comprises: while in the closed state the first current is continuously applied through the first winding of the coil, applying the second current through the second winding of the coil thus providing an overlapping state; after a period of time ("t2-t1") in the overlapping state terminating the first current. while in the closed state the first current is continuously applied through the first winding of the coil, applying the second current through the second winding of the coil thus providing an overlapping state; after a period of time ("t2-t1") in the overlapping state terminating the first current.