The local fundamental group of a Kawamata log terminal singularity is finite

Abstract

We prove a conjecture of Koll\'ar stating that the local fundamental group of a klt singularity $x$ is finite. In fact, we prove a stronger statement, namely that the fundamental group of the smooth locus of a neighbourhood of $x$ is finite. We call this the regional fundamental group. As the proof goes via a local-to-global induction, we simultaneously confirm finiteness of the orbifold fundamental group of the smooth locus of a weakly Fano pair.