Pretend to have influence on events (6)
I believe the answer is:
affect
This might be a double definition.
'pretend to' is the first definition.
(thesaurus)
'influence on events' is the second definition.
'affect' can be an answer for 'influence' (I've seen this in another clue). I am not sure about the 'on events' bit.
'have' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for affect that I've seen before include "front" , "impress" , "Assume" , "Put on" , "Pretend to feel or arouse sadness" .)