An electromagnetic operation mechanism drive circuit that performs opening/closing operation of an electric power apparatus, the electromagnetic operation mechanism drive circuit comprising: a movable core coupled to the electric power apparatus that is made to perform opening/closing operation; a driving coil for contact closing and a driving coil for contact opening, which drive the movable core; a capacitor for contact closing which is connected to the driving coil for contact closing, and supplies electric power; a driving switch element for contact closing which controls the supply of electric power from the capacitor for contact closing to the driving coil for contact closing; a protection switch element which is provided between the driving switch element for contact closing and the driving coil for contact closing, and is opened when the driving coil for contact opening is excited to generate induced electromotive force in the driving coil for contact closing; an overvoltage suppression circuit on the contact closing side in which a loop circuit on the contact closing side, in which a current attenuation capacitor and a current attenuation resistor are connected in series and a discharge resistor is connected in parallel to these, is connected in series to a loop circuit switch element on the contact closing side; and a voltage detection circuit on the contact closing side in which the overvoltage suppression circuit on the contact closing side is connected in parallel to the driving switch element for contact closing, and which detects voltage of the loop circuit switch element on the contact closing side, wherein opening/closing states of the loop circuit switch element on the contact closing side and the driving switch element for contact closing are determined by the voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit on the contact closing side; and the protection switch element is not made to open when the loop circuit switch element on the contact closing side and the driving switch element for contact closing cannot be closed. a movable core coupled to the electric power apparatus that is made to perform opening/closing operation; a driving coil for contact closing and a driving coil for contact opening, which drive the movable core; a capacitor for contact closing which is connected to the driving coil for contact closing, and supplies electric power; a driving switch element for contact closing which controls the supply of electric power from the capacitor for contact closing to the driving coil for contact closing; a protection switch element which is provided between the driving switch element for contact closing and the driving coil for contact closing, and is opened when the driving coil for contact opening is excited to generate induced electromotive force in the driving coil for contact closing; an overvoltage suppression circuit on the contact closing side in which a loop circuit on the contact closing side, in which a current attenuation capacitor and a current attenuation resistor are connected in series and a discharge resistor is connected in parallel to these, is connected in series to a loop circuit switch element on the contact closing side; and a voltage detection circuit on the contact closing side in which the overvoltage suppression circuit on the contact closing side is connected in parallel to the driving switch element for contact closing, and which detects voltage of the loop circuit switch element on the contact closing side, wherein opening/closing states of the loop circuit switch element on the contact closing side and the driving switch element for contact closing are determined by the voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit on the contact closing side; and the protection switch element is not made to open when the loop circuit switch element on the contact closing side and the driving switch element for contact closing cannot be closed.