--- a/docutils/writers/odf_odt/__init__.py
+++ b/docutils/writers/odf_odt/__init__.py
@@ -88,16 +88,20 @@
 #   that support for the ability to get the parent of an element.
 #
 if WhichElementTree == 'elementtree':
-    class _ElementInterfaceWrapper(etree._ElementInterface):
+    import weakref
+    _parents = weakref.WeakKeyDictionary()
+    if isinstance(etree.Element, type):
+        _ElementInterface = etree.Element
+    else:
+        _ElementInterface = etree._ElementInterface
+    class _ElementInterfaceWrapper(_ElementInterface):
         def __init__(self, tag, attrib=None):
-            etree._ElementInterface.__init__(self, tag, attrib)
-            if attrib is None:
-                attrib = {}
-            self.parent = None
+            _ElementInterface.__init__(self, tag, attrib)
+            _parents[self] = None
         def setparent(self, parent):
-            self.parent = parent
+            _parents[self] = parent
         def getparent(self):
-            return self.parent
+            return _parents[self]
 
 
 #